Opportunity for sub-specialty recruitment

The importance that undergraduate experience of psychiatry has in shaping the career choices of medical students is highlighted by Eagles et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, February 2007, 31, ). However, although some form of psychiatric experience is included in all medical school curricula the psychiatric sub-specialties often miss out, with possible consequences for recruitment.

It is important to address this, and one of the best ways of doing so is through the provision of special study modules. These are clinical attachments chosen by the student that usually last 3 weeks and may be in clinical environments to which the student is not routinely exposed. These modules should have a strong clinical focus and give the student the opportunity to see what the clinician actually does from day to day. The General Medical Council states that 25–33% of the medical school curriculum should now be delivered in this way (General Medical Council, 2003). This gives scope for many of the psychiatric sub-specialties to be included as possible options.

The observation that exposure to clinical psychiatry tends to promote positive attitudes suggests that this would be a good way of boosting sub-specialty recruitment. Special study modules present clinicians in psychiatric sub-specialties with a great chance to convey their enthusiasm and educate medical students in their areas of work. We should seize the chance and contact the special study module coordinators of the local medical schools to put our specialties forward.