The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine – Foundation, function and future

Abstract

Abstract:The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine was established in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1989 to develop and maintain competence, ethics and the highest professional standards of practice in the discipline. This article charts the founding principles and history of the Faculty, details its composition and membership, and outlines the major functions and achievements of the organisation in the context of the development of the discipline of pharmaceutical medicine. The recognition of pharmaceutical medicine as a medical specialty in the UK is described together with the associated certification programme Pharmaceutical Medicine Specialty Training, which enables pharmaceutical physicians to become certified practitioners in the specialty with the UK General Medical Council (UK GMC).

Postgraduate Education in Pharmaceutical Medicine in Australia: Evaluation and Evolution to a Global Program Over 20 Years

“…1,2 It is a recognized medical speciality in the UK. 1,3 Similarly, postgraduate education in pharmaceutical medicine, but known at the time as "drug development" in Australia began in 1996 at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (UNSW Sydney), providing the following degrees: Master of Medical Science (Drug Development), Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine; Graduate Diploma in Medical Science (Drug Development), and a Graduate Certificate in Medical Science (Drug Development). The master's degree was 72 units of credit (equivalent to 1.5 years of full-time study).…”

“…The program names were updated in 2014 to the Master of Pharmaceutical Medicine, Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine and Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine to better reflect similar courses offered internationally. 1,3,[11][12][13][14] The programs were restructured and the master's degree shortened to 48 units of credit (equivalent to 1 year of full-time study) in 2017. As part of this restructure, the programs were reviewed against similar international programs and a stakeholder survey was undertaken to identify gaps in the skills and knowledge covered by the programs and inform the program restructure.…”