The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Faculty of Travel Medicine Landmark Occasion
Sandra Grieve RGN RGN RM BSc (Hons) Dip.Trav.Med MFTM (RCPSG)
Awards given to three husband and wives teams at the ceremony to inaugurate the Faculty of Travel Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. From left to right: Dr and Mrs Alex Grieve, Professor and Mrs Peter Chiodini and Dr and Mrs Steve Riley.
The year 2006 will be recorded as a historic year in the world of travel medicine as the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (RCPSG) confirmed the establishment of its multidisciplinary Faculty of Travel Medicine.
On 19 July the sun shone brightly on Glasgow as the first Fellows, Members and Associates were admitted to the Faculty. Prior to the ceremony, the inductees were invited to tour the College, founded in 1599. College fellows were on hand to inform guests of the College's history and activities. The RCPSG enjoys the unique distinction among other Colleges in the UK in that only physicians, surgeons and dentists make up its membership and fellowship. Now, for the first time, nurses have been admitted to this illustrious body. A new chapter in the college's history has begun, said Professor Sir Graeme Teasdale, RCPSG President.
The Ceremony of Admission took place at Glasgow University's historic Bute Hall. The University was founded in 1451 and is the second oldest University in Scotland, the fourth oldest in Britain. The visitor centre, the Hunterian Museum, and the Art Gallery provided interesting insights into the history of the University. Perhaps of special interest for travel medicine practitioners is the collection of medical and scientific material, part of a collection assembled by pioneering obstetrician William Hunter, an Honorary Fellow of the College. The collection includes treasures from ancient Egypt, Africa and Roman Scotland.
Appropriately, Dr Eric Walker of Health Protection Scotland (HPS) was the first person to receive the award, the Fellowship of the Faculty of Travel Medicine. Dr Walker is well known in the field of travel medicine and has been proactive in travel medicine education for many years. This award was a fitting tribute to his enormous contribution to the discipline.
The first nurses to receive Fellowship awards included two members of the Royal College of Nursing Travel Health Forum Steering Committee, Chair Jane Chiodini and Lorna Boyne. Committee members Sandra Grieve and Alexandra Jordan received the award of Membership of the Faculty. Among other Fellowships awarded on the day was one to nurse Fiona Genasi from HPS. Fiona, Jane and Lorna have been and continue to be at the forefront of travel health education in the UK, and are well known nationally and internationally. An additional thirteen individuals were honoured with Membership and seven with Associateships.
Another "first" were the awards made to husbands and wives. Professor Peter Chiodini and his wife Jane received Fellowships while Dr Alex Grieve and wife Sandra and Dr Steve Riley and his wife Cate received Memberships. The day ended with a reception in Hunter Hall. Inductees were welcomed informally and each was given a small gift from the College to mark the event.
The College is seeking to establish an appropriately qualified Founder membership. Experienced travel medicine practitioners are being invited to join as founding members. Building on the success of the University of Glasgow and the RCPSG Diploma and MSc courses, the Faculty aims to ensure high standards of travel medicine clinical practice through developing its examinations in the tradition of the College's high standards. These standards are to:
- Organise and support high quality ongoing continuing professional development;
- Encourage the incorporation of the specialty into undergraducate curricula;
- Relate closely to other involved institutions and specialties, such as general practice, nursing, public health and tropical medicine;
- Represent the specialty at all levels; and
- Develop constructive relationships with the public and the media.
Enquiries should be directed to James Beaton james.beaton@rcpsg.ac.uk or telephone 0141 227 3204.
Nurses with a Diploma in Travel Medicine or other similar qualification are invited and encouraged to apply. www.rcpsglasg.ac.uk/news/TravelMedicine/
Sandra is Newsletter Editor, RCN Travel Health Forum, Chair RCN Travel Health Forum, RM BSc (Hons) Dip.Trav.Med MFTM (RCPSG).
