National Forum 2012

banner17prevocforum_120

18-21 Nov 2012 

The 2012 Prevocational Medical Education Forum was hosted by the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia, from 18-21 November 2012. The theme of the Forum is Diamonds and Pearls: Brilliance and Wisdom in Prevocational Education.

Western Australia evokes prestige and romance like diamonds and pearls. South Sea pearls from Broome and the world’s rarest pink diamonds from the vast Argyle diamond mine.

 The Forum opened with Samuel Shem (aka Prof Stephen Bergman) author of the intern’s bible, the satirical and ribald “The House of God”. It is 35 years since the Fat Man taught his raw recruits, including the Most Valuable Intern, his “Laws of the House” – Prof Bergman discussed how many of The Laws are relevant today?


The intern year was debated – its competencies and its prerequisites:

  • When is emergency medical care not an emergency term?
  • Assessment of the intern year – an apprenticeship or an education program
  • Healthy Leadership – rotations to develop our medical leaders
Dr Ross Roberts-Thompson reported on his Churchill fellowship. Prof Des Gorman and Hon Jim McGinty discussed the future of our medical training pipeline in Oceania. Dr Joanna Flynn from the Medical Board of Australia and the Chair of CPMEC,Prof Simon Wilcock came together with many new and innovative papers from our best and brightest.