1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine PMST – the (ex) trainee’s perspective Dr Phil Ambery Metabolic Medical Director, GSK Pharmaceuticals

2. Talking points Fitting PMST into a busy work life How much work is involved Getting credit for previous experience Documenting evidence Completing modules Actual benefits noted

3. Fitting PMST into a busy working life Plan in advance Keep a box file in your office Each time you do something important which may be evidence, put a copy in the box You can always complete the forms later Agree funding for your courses early, and get your name down up to a year in advance if you can

4. How much work is involved? If you plan, not a lot more than you do in your day to day job If you don’t, and try to complete the file just before your yearly assessment it’s a disaster Standards of external courses are distinctly variable, you have to do most of the learning on your own initiative

5. Sometimes you’re lucky…. I needed to cover safety and issues management….

6. Getting credit for previous experience Is difficult I got 6 months, for 2 years work as a regional medical adviser and 7 years in the NHS Best to register for PMST early and then you don’t have the problem

7. Documenting evidence Use your box file dump Save any email with your name on which may be useful Provide a range of evidence Not just emails…, rep materials, publications, symposium programs etc

8. Completing modules Talk to colleagues, know who you can discuss a safety or a regulatory module with Talk them through the syllabus before beginning a project Make sure you cover everything I was often left with 1/10 competencies to fill

9. Actual benefits noted The Unknown As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know We don't know Donald Rumsfeld - 2003

10. Actual benefits noted (2) We all believe we’re experts And we are in our own specialist fields and companies But by doing PMST you instantly improve your own marketability and value to your company and others by growing your knowledge immensely Do it, what have you got to lose?