Family Med Academy

[Stonybeach]

Thanks. I think I will talk with some UK Physicians about their opinions on this program.

[Hotdogman1]

"Liverpool Academy for Family Medicine offers flexible online Master's Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Fellowships in various medical specialties. All courses are locally approved and internationally accredited." https://www.business.gov.uk/invest-in-uk...es=&page=1

This statement has been debunked multiple times in this thread. It's probably fine for continuing education purposes but it is not a legitimate degree granting institution with legitimate accreditation.

[bjcheung77]

The last one within the list of three on their accreditation page: https://www.familymedacademy.com/about-us

Actually, technically all three, not only the bottom of the list...
1) UK Registrar - It's a registration of their business, not accreditation.
2) CPD - It is Continuing Professional Development, not accreditation.
3) ICDE - It is a membership, not accreditation.

[eLearner]

I just browsed through the ICDE website and wikipedia. They are not a fake accreditor...because they are not an accrediting body at all.

"The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) is the leading global membership organisation that works towards bringing accessible, quality education to all through open, flexible and distance learning...ICDE recognises its members and partners for their steadfast commitment to advocating for accessible and high-quality education for all." https://www.cambridgecollege.co.uk/news-...on-(icde)/

Membership costs 700 euros with a one time 75 euro application fee.

Just keep in mind that I never mentioned ICDE.

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The last one within the list of three on their accreditation page: https://www.familymedacademy.com/about-us

Actually, technically all three, not only the bottom of the list...
1) UK Registrar - It's a registration of their business, not accreditation.
2) CPD - It is Continuing Professional Development, not accreditation.
3) ICDE - It is a membership, not accreditation.

Yep, and that's right on my point which I think any mature, experienced, mentally healthy person in this space would understand. They're putting all of that on a page that uses the term "accreditation." It's going to mislead people, especially with "CPD accreditation" because most people are not going to know the difference between course accreditation and institutional accreditation which are two very different things.

[Stonybeach]

What I see as a consumer of continuing medical education is a legitimately registered UK business (October 2024), holding legitimate registration with continuing professional development (CPD) to offer "legitimate" medical professional development by distance learning that appears to be unaccredited, but not "fake!" The degree offerings are not accredited by a UK authority, which by law is required if the coursework is done in the UK, but it is done via distance learning to global students, so perhaps that is the legal loophole? The UK education website cautions students those degrees awarded by unaccredited institutions "may not be recognized by employers." Caveat emptor!

Any thoughts on this program?

In answer to your question, the need for general practitioners around the globe to receive up-to-date medical education is a real issue. The content of the family medicine program looks like a rigorous and very good quality undertaking at an affordable price. I applaud the owner of this very new company for his vision of bringing refresher and specialty courses to the general practitioners around the globe. I think one needs to understand that this organization's target audience is not the folks on this degree forum, but overworked, mature, experienced general practitioners with the "mental health" capacity to not pursue a suspicious course of study. I'm not concerned; these people are not easily duped. I don't qualify since they require an MBBS degree to enroll. Is anyone with an MBBS degree even participating in this forum?

BTW, I've done some research on medical discussion forums, and many are inactive, with posts as old as 10 years.

[Stonybeach]

Another interesting comment about postgraduate medical education in the global sense is that it is not uncommon to find unaccredited fellowships, residencies, workshops, conferences, continuing education, industry-provided hands-on surgical training, and so forth. Medical providers naturally seek knowledge if it serves a purpose in their practice. For example, Puerto Rico offers unaccredited, but government-recognized residencies in general practice that lead to licensing as a GP. The physician shortage is tremendous. Alternative pathways to gaining knowledge and skill sets are becoming more common.

[Duneranger]

Another interesting comment about postgraduate medical education in the global sense is that it is not uncommon to find unaccredited fellowships, residencies, workshops, conferences, continuing education, industry-provided hands-on surgical training, and so forth. Medical providers naturally seek knowledge if it serves a purpose in their practice. For example, Puerto Rico offers unaccredited, but government-recognized residencies in general practice that lead to licensing as a GP. The physician shortage is tremendous, especially with specialization, and alternative pathways to gaining knowledge and skill sets are becoming more common.

There are plenty of continuing ED certs in the UK at normal universities for medicine. My alma mater had SO many.  No reason to waste time with something like this. You get what you pay for.

[Stonybeach]

Another interesting comment about postgraduate medical education in the global sense is that it is not uncommon to find unaccredited fellowships, residencies, workshops, conferences, continuing education, industry-provided hands-on surgical training, and so forth. Medical providers naturally seek knowledge if it serves a purpose in their practice. For example, Puerto Rico offers unaccredited, but government-recognized residencies in general practice that lead to licensing as a GP. The physician shortage is tremendous, especially with specialization, and alternative pathways to gaining knowledge and skill sets are becoming more common.

There are plenty of continuing ED certs in the UK at normal universities for medicine. My alma mater had SO many.  No reason to waste time with something like this. You get what you pay for.

This school doesn't provide medical education in the UK. It provides online education for GPs throughout the world. If it doesn't get students, which I suspect it won't, it will fail naturally, so no worries, mate! But, my comments were more about "legitimacy" versus "fake." This thread really is a dumpster fire!

Are you an FMG/IMG who couldn't get a residency, so you completed nursing school, then anesthetist school? This topic would make an awesome thread. Alternative pathways for foreign medical graduates unable to get a residency.