Welcome to the second issue of Student GMC News

This month GMC Council Member and trainee doctor, Johann Malawana, answers some of your questions about the GMC, the recent merger of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) with the GMC and what this means for you....

Also in this issue...

• Win a £50 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Share your thoughts about end of life care
• The GMC and medical students: working together to ensure high-quality education
• Medical research: new guidance launched

Name: Dr Johann Malawana

CV: Having graduated from Barts and the London in 2005, Johann is currently an ST3 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Both a GMC Council Member and member of the GMC's Postgraduate Board, Johann is also Deputy Chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee and a former PMETB Board member.

Q1. As a medical student, why should I be interested in the GMC?

The GMC maintains standards for the profession and defines what it means to be a doctor. As a student, I am sure you are interested in the profession you are training to enter and want to make a positive contribution to it. The GMC has a central role in your profession and will continue to play an important part in maintaining high standards in education and training, which will benefit you and remain as a point of reference to you throughout your career.

Q2. The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board recently merged with the GMC. Why did the merger take place, and how will this affect today's medical students?

With the merger the GMC is now responsible for regulating all stages of a doctor's career - from medical school right through to retirement - resulting in a more comprehensive overview of a doctor's education, training and professional development. I believe the merger will ensure that current students enjoy a coherent progression through their medical careers, linking medical education, professional responsibility and fitness to practice.

Q3. Isn't the GMC really only relevant to doctors who get into trouble?

I hope that the vast majority of doctors see the GMC as the regulator that promotes standards in education and training, rather than the policeman for the very small minority of doctors who under-perform. While the fitness to practise and registration functions are very important areas of our work, education and training is one of the highest priorities for the GMC, ensuring that future doctors are able to reach their full potential in this challenging and dynamic career.

Q4. If you could give one piece of advice to students studying medicine, what would it be?

Make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. Understand the benefits of positive role models, but also understand that when you see things in medicine that you want to question or don't agree with, your opinion is as valid as that of any other professional. Have confidence in your opinions and use your experiences of discussing good practice with tutors and colleagues to inform the development of your own practice as a future doctor. Despite what you may sometimes be told, the medical profession must and has evolved. The future and therefore the most important group within the profession, are the students who will make tomorrow's doctors, and you all have a really important role to play.

Do you have any questions about the GMC? Email students@gmc-uk.org and we will select the best of the bunch for publication in a future edition of Student GMC News.

We're always interested to hear your views, and this month we want to hear about the most important thing you feel you've learnt so far at medical school. It might be something academic or something to do with your journey towards becoming a doctor.

Perhaps you've picked up some words of advice or handy tips which could benefit your fellow students, or maybe there is something you wish you had known when you embarked on your studies.

We'll publish the most thought-provoking submissions in the next issue of Student GMC News but as an additional incentive to take part, we'll be drawing one of these out of a hat to receive a £50 Amazon gift certificate.

But you've got to be in it to win it. Tell us in up to 50 words, about the most important thing you've leant so far at medical school. Send this to: students@gmc-uk.org by 20 June 2010. We look forward to hearing from you.

Have you been involved in providing end of life care?

As a doctor, your involvement in end of life care can begin from the moment you start working with patients. This can be a challenging, complex and emotional area of work and the GMC has just launched a major new piece of guidance which will be explored in Student GMC News next time. The guidance covers such issues as withdrawing clinically assisted nutrition and hydration, organ and tissue donation, and taking account of refusals of treatment. Click here to view the guidance on end of life care

If you'd like to share any thoughts, experiences or concerns about end of life care please drop us a line at: students@gmc-uk.org Your views will give us some food for thought for our next issue.

The GMC is the independent regulator for doctors in the UK. Our statutory purpose is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine.

We do this by controlling entry to the medical register and setting the educational standards for medical schools. We also determine the principles and values that underpin good medical practice and we take firm but fair action where those standards have not been met.

For more information on all aspects of our work visit our website

Quick-links:

Information for medical students 

Tomorrow's Doctors 

Student fitness to practise  

Quality assuring medical schools  

"Every day at the front line of care doctors are having hard conversations with patients and their families and helping them to make incredibly emotional and difficult decisions. We hope this guidance will support them in providing the best quality of care and support'"

Niall Dickson,
GMC Chief Executive