Should medical schools offer part-time study?

For aspiring GP and mum of three, Lisa Ross, having no part-time option to study medicine at university is proving a challenge – and some say it could impact Australia’s ability to attract future GPs.
 
But change could be on the way.
 
Ms Ross felt motivated to study medicine after her three daughters took ill and she had to wait three weeks to see a GP in regional Western Victoria, the ABC reports.
 
The experience prompted the 40-year-old physiotherapist to enrol into medical school at Deakin University. However, the stress of juggling a full-time study load with family life and a mortgage forced her to hit pause on her studies for a year, as there was no part-time option available.
 
Since sharing her story, Ms Ross says she has had contact from many students in a similar situation.
 
‘I have had a lot of students contact me as well as prospective students with young families, that have said this would make all the difference. That their ability to study medicine and complete the degree would almost be assured,’ she told newsGP.
 
Currently, no medical schools in Australia offer part-time study, which can be a barrier for many, but there’s motivation among medical deans to change that.
 
Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand CEO Kate Lynch said positive work is underway, including collaboration between medical schools and plans by some to implement more flexible curriculum delivery in the next three years.
 
‘Flexibility in the delivery of medical education is important as the Australian medical student cohort is increasingly diversified, including more older students with family responsibilities, more students who need to work as well as study, and more students with individual support needs who require additional time to complete their medical degree,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Australian medical schools are actively collaborating on how to design and implement more flexibility in the delivery of their medical curricula. A medical deans working group is addressing flexible medical education in Australia.’
 
Ms Lynch said Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand is also working with the Federal Government, which funds and caps the number of medical school places allocated to Australian medical programs each year, to ensure that funding mechanisms support flexible models of education.
 
But she says there are also ‘significant structural challenges’.
 
‘Medical degrees are intensive and highly regulated, with strict clinical training requirements, and current funding and accreditation models do not easily support part-time pathways. However, innovation is emerging,’ Ms Lynch said.
 
‘While full part-time medical degrees may not be possible across all institutions in the near term, we are seeing positive signs of momentum, and Medical Deans [Australia and New Zealand] is committed to supporting those schools ready to lead this change.’
 
For Ms Ross, even having part-time study available for years one and two initially, would help.
 
‘I know that I am in a privileged position to even consider studying medicine, however, I do think that [with] my skill set, as a mostly hospital-based physiotherapist and from a rural background, that I will make a positive contribution to the community as a GP,’ she said.
 
Many of the challenges Ms Ross raises were outlined in a letter she wrote to Deakin University last year.
 
While the university offers flexible learning options, such as being able to access content remotely, it does not allow for reduced loading, she explained.
 
Since writing the letter, Ms Ross said she has had ‘incredible support’ from the university medical school.
 
‘Deakin University has been quite progressive in the changes it has made to improve equity of access,’ she said.
 
‘Recruiting medical students from rural, underrepresented and minority groups is only the first step. The next challenge is supporting them to complete the degree successfully.
 
‘Part-time would alleviate the financial pressures which would directly impact the accessibility of this course making it a viable option for more mature age students.’
 
Chair of RACGP GPs in Training Dr Bec Loveridge said medical schools should be considering all options to support students from a variety of backgrounds to complete their studies.
 
‘We know that general practice is one of the most flexible medical specialities with excellent work–life balance, which is very attractive to those with caring responsibilities,’ she told newsGP.
 
‘Unfortunately, the lack of part-time medical programs means these people, who would otherwise make excellent GPs, are often unable to even consider studying medicine.
 
‘Balancing family and career is difficult at the best of times, and full credit to Lisa Ross for getting through her studies to date and advocating for change.’
 
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