Clin Med
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Out-of-programme (OOP) activities enable postgraduate trainees to undertake an experience outside of their individual subspecialty training programmes. Activities vary but may include a period of research, additional clinical experiences or time for a planned career break. Determining whether to go OOP is a common dilemma faced by many trainees as they progress through postgraduate training. This review assesses the options trainees have with regards to going OOP, evaluates the potential advantages and disadvantages and also provides advice for those considering an OOP activity.
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As society changes, doctors must adapt. Despite remarkable advances in medicine, the pace of change--greater now than ever--is challenging doctors to define their role and relevance. Is medicine really facing a crisis? Are claims for a malaise in medicine overstated? Regardless, the profession has been called upon to respond collectively to change. ⋯ Approaches will vary but one constant should be a steadfast adherence to the scientific basis of medicine as a way of thinking. Engagement with the medical humanities will also help doctors stay fresh and deepen their understanding of what it feels like to be ill. In so doing, clinicians will find inspiration in the ordinary.