In this episode of 'Demystifying PACES', Dr Kat Ralston chats to Dr Matt Thomas to draw back the curtain and give you a 'behind the scenes' insight into how the PACES exams are organised. We cover the application process, how patients are selected, who the examiners are, how calibration works and what happens on the exam day and beyond. We include practical tips to help you in your preparation for and experience of MRCP(UK) PACES. 

Dr Matt Thomas has recently taken over as Dean of Examinations at RCPE having nearly 20 years of experience of examining, locally, nationally and internationally. He has previously been Programme Director for Geriatric Training in Wessex and Medical Director for Poole Hospital where he has worked since last century as a Consultant Geriatrician. He enjoys examining and seeing keen clinicians at the start of their specialist career. In his spare time he and his wife keep busy as the Lifeboat Operations Managers for the local RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Dr Kat Ralston is a Geriatric Medicine Registrar and member of the RCPE Trainees and Members’ Committee, currently working in Edinburgh.

-- Link --
https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/paces

-- Choose RCPE as your College of Entry for PACES --
We encourage you to sit PACES with our College. We have a friendly and experienced examinations team who expertly support candidates, and we deliver PACES at centres across the UK. Select RCPE as your College of Entry when applying online through your My MRCP(UK) online account.

Recording date: 9 November 2023

Disclaimer: Please always refer to the MRCP(UK) website for up-to-date information on the PACES exam. See: https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/paces

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees
https://twitter.com/RCPEdinTrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE Events --
https://events.rcpe.ac.uk/

Feedback: cme@rcpe.ac.uk

Career Conversations

Demystifying PACES - How the exam is organised (15 Dec 2023)

In this episode, Dr Marilena Giannoudi interviews Dr Mudher Al-Khairalla about the PACES respiratory system examination encounter (Station 1). Dr Al-Khairalla gives an overview of the encounter including examiner calibration and skills tested, and shares top tips and common pitfalls.

Dr Al-Khairalla is a Consultant & Honorary Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine,
University of Dundee and GIM Clinical Lead at Perth Royal Infirmary, NHS Tayside. Dr Al-Khairalla has been hosting the MRCP UK PACES exam since 2011 and chair of examiners both in the UK and internationally. 

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is a member of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD.

-- Links --
https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/paces
https://ryder-mrcp.org.uk/ - Please note, RCPE does not endorse any external materials

-- Choose RCPE as your College of Entry for PACES --
We encourage you to sit PACES with our College. We have a friendly and experienced examinations team who expertly support candidates, and we deliver PACES at centres across the UK. Select RCPE as your College of Entry when applying online through your My MRCP(UK) online account.

Recording date: 20 December 2023

Disclaimer: Please always refer to the MRCP website for up-to-date information on the PACES exam. See: https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/paces

-- Follow us --
https://www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees
https://twitter.com/RCPEdinTrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE Events --
https://events.rcpe.ac.uk/

Feedback: cme@rcpe.ac.uk

Demystifying PACES - Respiratory [Station 1]

Demystifying PACES - Respiratory [Station 1] (31 Jan 2024)

This week, Dr Marilena Giannoudi focuses on the geriatric career path with Dr Kat Ralston. This episode covers the day-to-day as well as the advantages, challenges, and the pathway to this profession. Dr Ralston provides many resources to inform your journey into geriatric medicine and discusses a few interesting cases she has encountered. 

Dr Kat Ralston is a geriatric medicine registrar in Edinburgh. She is also the Education Co-Vice Chair and the joint Podcast Lead for the RCPE Trainee & Members' Committee (T&MC).

Dr Marilena Giannoudi is a cardiology registrar based in Leeds. She is Co-Chair of the Trainees and Members’ Committee, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and is currently undertaking a PhD.

--Useful Links--
Physician Higher Specialty Training Recruitment - https://www.phstrecruitment.org.uk/specialties/geriatric-medicine

British Geriatrics Society
https://www.bgs.org.uk/

Clinical Frailty Scale - 
https://www.bgs.org.uk/sites/default/files/content/attachment/2018-07-05/rockwood_cfs.pdf

REDMAP Framework
https://www.spict.org.uk/red-map/

Think Delirium Toolkit
https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/2442/rrheal/education-networks/rural-teams-education-network/think-delirium-improving-the-care-for-older-people-delirium-toolkit

The Geriatric 5M’s
https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.14979

Silver Book II
Geriatric Syndromes (British Geriatrics Society) - https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/silver-book-ii-geriatric-syndromes

ACB Calculator
https://www.acbcalc.com/

-- Related episodes --

A Fresh Look at the Geriatric Giants – Front Door and Beyond, Clinical Conversations Podcast
https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/a-fresh-look-at-the-geriatric-giants-front-door-and-beyond-26-feb-2024

Frailty for the Non-Specialist, Clinical Conversations Podcast 
https://podcasts.rcpe.ac.uk/show/clinical-conversations/frailty-for-the-non-specialist-11-mar-2024

Recording Date: 02 April 2024

Choose RCPE as your College of Entry for PACES -- 
We encourage you to sit PACES with our College. We have a friendly and experienced examinations team who expertly support candidates, and we deliver PACES at centres across the UK. Select RCPE as your College of Entry when applying online through your My MRCP(UK) online account.

-- Follow us --
www.instagram.com/rcpedintrainees
twitter.com/RCPEdinTrainees

-- Upcoming RCPE Events --
events.rcpe.ac.uk/

Feedback: cme@rcpe.ac.uk

Medical Specialties - Geriatric Medicine (4 Dec 2024)

RCPE's Podcast Series 'Career Conversations' by the Trainees & Members' Committee (T&MC).

Demystifying PACES - How the exam is organised (15 Dec 2023)

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

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