PDT

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine curriculum has been developed with a focus on the healthcare needs of Cumbria, a region characterised by its rural landscape, dispersed population and specific health challenges. The school’s bespoke curriculum will equip students with the knowledge, skills and experiences to practise medicine in the region.

Given the central role of community, primary and secondary care in the area, the curriculum places a strong emphasis on training you to be able to work across the clinical care pathway, located in remote and sparsely populated regions. In particular, the curriculum emphasises prevention and community-based healthcare.

The school collaborates closely with local NHS trusts, primary care networks, and other healthcare providers to ensure that medical education is aligned with the needs of the region.

As a PCSM medical student you will gain experience in recognising and treating common mental health conditions, as well as promoting mental wellbeing in primary care settings and community outreach.

You will be trained in a holistic approach to healthcare, working with other health professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and paramedics to deliver integrated care in a Team setting.

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is committed to providing academic and professional support to ensure that you succeed in your studies.

PDTs are at the heart of PCSM’s academic and professional support network. You will be assigned a PDT who serves as your mentor, advisor and advocate throughout your medical education journey. Your PDTs will play a crucial role by:

• Providing Personalised Guidance – PDTs will work closely with you to navigate the challenges of medical education, from advice on study strategies and clinical skills to career progression.
• Enhancing Professional Growth – through regular one-to-one meetings, PDTs will help you to set academic and professional goals, ensuring you build the competencies required for a successful medical career.
• Supporting Wellbeing and Resilience – the demanding nature of medical training requires emotional and psychological support. PDTs will provide a trusted source of guidance, helping you to manage and maintain work-life balance.
• Facilitating Lifelong Learning – PDTs support a commitment to continuous learning, encouraging you to engage with research, quality improvement initiatives and reflective practice.

Students will be supporting with their professional development in a variety of different ways including:

• Career Planning – PDTs work closely with career planning services to help you identify and pursue their professional aspirations.
• Clinical Placements – from early in your education, you will participate in clinical placements across Cumbria, gaining hands-on experience in a variety of healthcare settings, from GP surgeries to community hospitals.

One of the primary goals of the PCSM is to encourage our graduates to remain in Cumbria and contribute to improving the region’s healthcare system. To achieve this, the school is developing a comprehensive strategy to support you as newly qualified doctors as you transition into practice within the local community.

The school will work closely with local healthcare providers to identify job opportunities for our graduates, particularly in primary care and hospitals, where the need for doctors is greatest.

The school actively supports Foundation Priority Programmes, which are targeted incentives to attract and retain doctors in remote, rural and under-doctored areas. Graduates will have access to training in AI medicine, and healthcare management, ensuring they remain at the forefront of medical advancements. The school supports initiatives that help graduates integrate into the local community, such as housing assistance, social networks and family support services.

The PCSM curriculum aims to equip future doctors with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive and support the local healthcare community.

The region is rich in healthcare opportunities, with a growing demand for professionals across primary and secondary care. PCSM is working in partnership with local NHS trusts and community healthcare providers, to ensure that students are embedded in the region’s medical landscape.

The PCSM curriculum has been designed to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, ensuring that you can apply what you have learning in real-world settings.

You will undertake a community-based research projects that address local health issues, contributing to the body of knowledge needed to improve local healthcare in an area of research of importance to you.