Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)

IntroductionAddressing the shortage of primary-care physicians, especially in remote and rural areas, is a crucial target in many countries. This article introduces the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme: a compressed, tailor-made curriculum designed to equip and enthuse its gradua...

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Main Authors: Fiona Graham, Jon Dowell, Angela Flynn, Shalini Gupta, Andrew David MacFarlane, Andrew O’Malley, Robert Scully, Francis Michael Sullivan, Lloyd Samuel John Thompson, Kirsty Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1586851/full
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author Fiona Graham
Fiona Graham
Jon Dowell
Angela Flynn
Shalini Gupta
Andrew David MacFarlane
Andrew O’Malley
Robert Scully
Francis Michael Sullivan
Lloyd Samuel John Thompson
Kirsty Alexander
Kirsty Alexander
author_facet Fiona Graham
Fiona Graham
Jon Dowell
Angela Flynn
Shalini Gupta
Andrew David MacFarlane
Andrew O’Malley
Robert Scully
Francis Michael Sullivan
Lloyd Samuel John Thompson
Kirsty Alexander
Kirsty Alexander
author_sort Fiona Graham
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAddressing the shortage of primary-care physicians, especially in remote and rural areas, is a crucial target in many countries. This article introduces the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme: a compressed, tailor-made curriculum designed to equip and enthuse its graduates to practice generalist and rural medicine in Scotland, within the ethos of socially accountable medicine.MethodsThis curriculum paper describes ScotGEM in sufficient detail for the reader to translate elements to their own context. It then collates findings from evaluations, research projects and many critical discussions about the programme. This work is used to describe and evaluate the curriculum design and delivery, with a focus on the distributed aspects.ResultsThree key innovations of the curriculum are explored in detail: the Generalist Clinical Mentor (GCM) role; the year-long primary care Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC); and the Agents of Change curriculum. There are early signs that ScotGEM is encouraging generalist, rural careers within Scotland. There is also growing evidence of the benefits ScotGEM faculty and students bring to the clinical workforce in the distributed settings.DiscussionDistributed programmes require additional organization for students and faculty. Partnerships can be challenging but immensely rewarding. Healthcare partners in rural areas need to be involved early in planning and strong relationships fostered with local “champions.”
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spelling doaj-art-37ce3f1248a74c13a36c48ed87f1e21c2025-07-14T10:00:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15868511586851Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)Fiona Graham0Fiona Graham1Jon Dowell2Angela Flynn3Shalini Gupta4Andrew David MacFarlane5Andrew O’Malley6Robert Scully7Francis Michael Sullivan8Lloyd Samuel John Thompson9Kirsty Alexander10Kirsty Alexander11School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomNHS Education for Scotland, Edinburgh, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, IrelandSchool of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, United KingdomSchool of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United KingdomIntroductionAddressing the shortage of primary-care physicians, especially in remote and rural areas, is a crucial target in many countries. This article introduces the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) programme: a compressed, tailor-made curriculum designed to equip and enthuse its graduates to practice generalist and rural medicine in Scotland, within the ethos of socially accountable medicine.MethodsThis curriculum paper describes ScotGEM in sufficient detail for the reader to translate elements to their own context. It then collates findings from evaluations, research projects and many critical discussions about the programme. This work is used to describe and evaluate the curriculum design and delivery, with a focus on the distributed aspects.ResultsThree key innovations of the curriculum are explored in detail: the Generalist Clinical Mentor (GCM) role; the year-long primary care Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC); and the Agents of Change curriculum. There are early signs that ScotGEM is encouraging generalist, rural careers within Scotland. There is also growing evidence of the benefits ScotGEM faculty and students bring to the clinical workforce in the distributed settings.DiscussionDistributed programmes require additional organization for students and faculty. Partnerships can be challenging but immensely rewarding. Healthcare partners in rural areas need to be involved early in planning and strong relationships fostered with local “champions.”https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1586851/fulldistributed trainingundergraduate medical educationrural and remote areasScotlandfamily medicine and general practicesocial accountability
spellingShingle Fiona Graham
Fiona Graham
Jon Dowell
Angela Flynn
Shalini Gupta
Andrew David MacFarlane
Andrew O’Malley
Robert Scully
Francis Michael Sullivan
Lloyd Samuel John Thompson
Kirsty Alexander
Kirsty Alexander
Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
Frontiers in Medicine
distributed training
undergraduate medical education
rural and remote areas
Scotland
family medicine and general practice
social accountability
title Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
title_full Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
title_fullStr Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
title_full_unstemmed Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
title_short Development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme: Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM)
title_sort development and innovation in a new distributed medical programme scottish graduate entry medicine scotgem
topic distributed training
undergraduate medical education
rural and remote areas
Scotland
family medicine and general practice
social accountability
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1586851/full
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