Taking training into your own hands

Abstract

-The Young Diabetologists' Forum (YDF) is a group designed and run by specialist trainees in endocrinology and diabetes that aims to provide high quality educational events. The YDF recognised that not all trainees in the specialty had equitable access to training opportunities and resolved to try and remedy the situation. This article describes the history and evolution of the YDF into an organisation representing over 400 trainees in endocrinology and diabetes, providing up to seven training events per year and with a budget of over £200,000. As well as offering education and training another key purpose of the YDF is to give trainees from around the country the opportunity to meet up and exchange thoughts and ideas. The overall aim of the organisation is to improve the lives of people with diabetes by helping to ensure that future specialists are fully equipped for their role.

YDEF training survey 2014

“…1 There is a need to recognise when things are sub-optimal and to get up and do something about gaps in training. This survey shows variation in training opportunities and quality across the UK and that the disparity of the GIM burden continues.…”

“…In addition to providing educational courses and events, YDEF seeks to improve the quality of specialist education by identifying deficiencies in training, and reporting these to those responsible for organising that training, both locally and nationally, with constructive suggestions for improvements. 1 Key concerns in the past have been access to training opportunities in elements of the D&E curriculum such as insulin pump experience or specialist pituitary clinics, 2 marked variation in the quality and types of training between centres and the different regions, and the constant dilution of specialist training opportunities by the increasing service demands of general internal medicine -the management of the acute take, and of general medical inpatients.…”

Higher specialist training in diabetes and endocrinology in the UK: interpreting the YDEF National Training Survey 2014

“…As the report from the YDEF states this is a good time for trainees themselves to take the initiative and strive to make their training better. 4,5 …”