Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) is a four year training programme, with entry at ST3, after successful foundation training and a core training programme (either Core Medical Training or Acute Care Common Stem) and MRCP.
The main domains of GUM involves the diagnosis and management of patients with sexually transmitted infections, HIV and contraceptive care. There are opportunities to work in more specialised services such as young people’s clinics, genital dermatoses, sexual dysfunction and psychosexual medicine, outreach services for sex workers and drug users and delivering sexual health and HIV care to prison population. There is also a public health and significant safeguarding element to the specialty with the need to perform partner notification (contact tracing), collect and report surveillance data in order to detect changing trends of infections, spotting the signs of child abuse and domestic violence.
Trainees are expected to complete the Diploma in GUM, the Diploma in HIV and there will be ample opportunities to complete the Diploma for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and gaining competency in implant and intrauterine device.
The majority of work and training is undertaken in outpatient settings, as well as some inpatient care and satellite community settings. The specialty also has close links with colleagues in Hepatology, Obstetric & Gynaecology, Infectious Disease and Dermatology.
Essential requirements of a genitourinary physician are enjoying contact with patients, being able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and good communication skills. It is important to be non-judgemental and feel comfortable about discussing sensitive issues such as sex.
A new curriculum for dual training in GUM and Internal Medicine will be implemented in August 2022, subject to GMC approval. This will open up new progressive changes to the specialty and will create more opportunities for change, research and collaborative work.
Further information including the curriculum and guidance are here: https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/specialties/genitourinary-medicine
You can read why you should join the specialty here: https://www.bashh.org/news/blogging-4-bashh/top-5-reasons-why-gum-is-the-specialty-for-you/
Information about rotations
https://thamesvalley.hee.nhs.uk/medicine/genitourinary-medicine/rotation-information/
Recruitment
https://www.st3recruitment.org.uk/specialties/genitourinary-medicine
Further educational and research opportunities
The post provides many exciting opportunities for trainees such as BASHH/Public Health England programme of Honorary Joint Fellowship, audit and quality improvement projects, leading teaching sessions for Oxford University undergraduate medical students and many educational and research opportunities are accessible via the British HIV Association (BHIVA), the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), the HIV Trainees Club (HIVTC) and the British Infection Society (BIS). Support will be provided for trainees who wish to undertake out of programme periods for research and other fellowship opportunities.
Please contact the Training Programme Director for further information
Dr Nurul Huda Mohamad Fadzillah
Sexual Health and HIV Consultant
Oxfordshire Sexual Health
Sexual Health Department
Churchill Hospital, Old Road, OX3 7LE
E-mail: huda.fadzillah@ouh.nhs.uk