Conference of Medical Academic Representatives 2007


A brighter future for academic medicine?
Tuesday 13 March 2007
British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP The event
The event is the BMA’s annual representative conference for doctors employed at higher education institutions and medical charities. It is the opportunity for medical academic representatives from across the UK to meet together, to discuss key issues and set priorities for the Medical Academic Staff Committee (MASC) for the coming year. The business of the conference is also to elect 16 members of MASC for the succeeding session.

All representatives to the Conference of Medical Academic Representatives (COMAR) shall hold office from the beginning of the annual conference to which they have been elected, to the eve of the following year's annual conference. Between meetings of COMAR, representatives will be updated on the business of MASC electronically and be able to contribute to electronic debates on topical issues. Unless elected to MASC, COMAR representatives are not normally expected to attend meetings.

Who may attend?
There are voting places for medical academics to attend from each medical school and higher education institutions. In the event that there are more bookings than places available at a medical school/institution, an election may be held to determine the representatives. All members of MASC for the current session (2006-07) are entitled to attend the conference. Non-voting observer seats may also be available. If you have any further questions please contact Jennifer Drummond by email here at JDrummond@bma.org.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)20 7383 6159.

Conference agenda
The conference will take a different format in 2007, with keynote speakers introducing structured debate and delegates actively contributing to policy development in informal breakout groups. The new style aims to increase delegate participation in setting priorities for MASC in the coming year.

Discussion and debate will take place on the following areas:
  • integrated academic training pathways
  • valuing academic medicine
  • NHS funding of academic medicine
  • do career pathways for medical education exist?
  • the relationship between academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry
  • health research's contribution to UK PLC
Motions
Part of the agenda will continue to be given over to the debate of motions submitted by medical academic representatives. Motions must be received by Wednesday 21 February 2007. Please email motions here to info.masc@bma.org.uk

Conference venue
The conference will take place in the Black Suite at BMA House on Tuesday 13 March 2007. Registration will take place from 09.30 to 10.00hrs, the conference will commence at 10.00hrs and will close at 16.00hrs.

Expenses
All reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed on production of receipts.

Accommodation expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £128 per night. Please note that overnight stays should only be undertaken if it will be necessary for the attendee to leave home before 06.30hrs or arrive back at home later than 23.00hrs.

How to book
If you are attending on behalf of your HEI/medical school as COMAR representative, you need to be nominated by a colleague. Nominator - please complete your nomination for a representative from your HEI/medical school here. Nominees please submit your registration form to attend COMAR here.

If you are a current member of MASC, please register to attend COMAR here.

If you have any further queries or require any further information about the conference, please contact BMA Conferences on +44 (0) 20 7383 6605/6137.

Programme
09.30 – 10.00 hrs
Registration and refreshments

10.00 – 10.10 hrs
Welcome and introduction
Dr Peter Dangerfield, Chairman of COMAR, British Medical Association

10.10 – 10.25 hrs
Integrated academic training pathway
Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chair, UKCRC/MMC Integrated Academic Training Clinical Academic Careers Panel

10.25 – 10.40 hrs
Questions from the floor

10.40 – 10.55 hrs
Do career pathways for medical education exist?
Dame Lesley Southgate, ASME President, Council member, Academy of Medical Educators

10.55 – 11.10 hrs
Questions from the floor

11.10 – 11.40 hrs
Breakout groups – aim is to suggest key priorities for motions on:
Priorities for enhancing a career in academic medicine
Career pathways and education

11.50 – 12.30 hrs
Proposition of motions from medical schools
  • NHS Structure
  • Academic and NHS relations
  • Regulation
  • Medical education
  • Academic training and careers
12.30 – 12.45 hrs
Proposition of motions arising from breakout groups

12.45 – 13.00 hrs
Address by the Chairman of MASC & launch of the Good University Employment Guide
Professor Michael Rees, Chairman of MASC, British Medical Association

13.00 – 14.00 hrs
Lunch

NB: Nominations close 13.00 hrs for Chairman of COMAR, 16 members of MASC, also deadline for emergency motions

14.00 – 14.15 hrs
Academic medicine and the new Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research
Professor Sally C Davies, Director General for Research and Development, Department of Health

14.15 – 14.30 hrs
Questions from the floor

14.30 – 14.45 hrs
The relationship between academic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry
Dr Richard Tiner, Director of Medicine, Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry

14.45 – 15.00 hrs
Questions from the floor

15.00 – 15.30 hrs
Breakout groups - aim is to suggest key priorities for motions on:
Research and the future of the NHS
Academia and the pharmaceutical industry

Refreshments to be served during breakout group

15.30 – 16.00 hrs
Proposition of motions from medical schools, committee business motions
  • Contracts and pay
  • Trade union recognition
  • Research
16.00 – 16.15 hrs
Proposition of motions arising from breakout groups

16.15 hrs
Emergency motions, announcement of results, date of next COMAR

16.30 hrs
Close

Conference booking terms and conditions
All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions set out below, and should be made on the registration form (one form per delegate).
  1. Submission of your booking is an offer which will be acknowledged in writing by BMA Conferences. Acceptance of the booking will only take place if so agreed by BMA Conferences and not until receipt of cleared funds (if applicable) for the conference, and when specified in writing by BMA Conferences.
  2. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of BMA Conferences to alter the content and timing of the conference, the identity of the speaker, the date or the venue. In the unlikely event of the conference being cancelled, we will refund you any reasonable travel expenses, but we will not be liable to you for any other costs or losses, whether direct or indirect.
  3. Information from the registration form will be used to provide a list of delegates for circulation at the conference. We will also process the personal data on the registration form, in order to ensure that necessary arrangements are made for you for the conference. This may include passing such information to the operators of the venue, for the purposes required for the conference. You will also have the option not to receive any future mailings from BMA Conferences, and if so you can tick the box on the registration form.
  4. If you wish to cancel your booking, please inform BMA Conferences in writing immediately.
  5. You will need to comply at all times with the rules and regulations imposed by the venue. You will also need to ensure that you have your own insurances against any loss to your property you may suffer, or any loss or damage you may cause at the conference.
  6. Should we be unable to perform any obligations under this Agreement due to causes or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including any Act of God, war or threatened war, terrorism or threatened terrorism, fire, flood, drought, strike, lock out or actions of the venue, we will not be liable to you for this.
  7. This agreement is subject to the laws of England and it is agreed that the courts of competent jurisdiction shall be the English Courts.
Contact
BMA Conferences, British Medical Association, BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7383 6605/6137
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7383 6663
Email: confunit@bma.org.uk
Web: www.bma.org.uk/comar

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