MD Acumen · Essex Medical Society
UK Primary Care Clinical Elective & Observership
A flagship international programme bringing the world's finest medical graduates into the heart of UK general practice
Planned launch: Summer 2026 · Hertfordshire & Essex · Partners: New Vision University & East West University, Georgia
Programme Status — April 2026: Under Discussion & Awaiting Final Approval
This programme is currently in active institutional discussion. University contracts and memoranda of understanding are being negotiated with partner institutions. Final programme approval, cohort dates, and enrolment details will be confirmed and published here upon execution of all agreements. Expressions of interest from prospective students, GP practices, and university partners are welcomed now.
Bridging International Medical Education and UK General Practice
The UK Primary Care Clinical Elective and Observership Programme is a structured, university-contracted initiative providing final-year international medical graduates with supervised clinical exposure to UK general practice — one of the world's most advanced primary healthcare systems. Developed and directed by Professor Rajesh Varma in collaboration with the Essex Medical Society, the programme addresses a critical gap in international medical education: the transition from academic training to the clinical realities, professional culture, and regulatory landscape of NHS primary care.
Students completing this programme will acquire a grounded understanding of UK general practice, NHS system navigation, clinical governance, GMC regulatory requirements, and the professional standards expected of practitioners working in the United Kingdom — foundational preparation for those pursuing GMC registration, PLAB/MLA, UKFP, and postgraduate specialty training.
Real NHS Exposure
Students observe in approved teaching GP practices across Hertfordshire and Essex — practices that train NHS GP registrars — Tuesday to Friday each week of the placement.
Intensive Academic Mondays
A six-hour structured Monday symposium programme delivered by the Essex Medical Society across all four placement weeks — covering the full PLAB/MLA, CPSA, and clinical skills curriculum.
University-Contracted Quality
All placements operate under a formal memorandum of understanding between the partner university and each host GP practice, ensuring governance, supervisory, and quality standards are legally binding.
University Partners
The programme launches with two founding university partners based in Tbilisi, Georgia, both offering established English-language international medical programmes.
Founding Partner · Georgia
New Vision University
Tbilisi, Georgia · newvision.ge
New Vision University is one of Georgia's leading international universities, offering an English-language MD programme with a strong international student body. Professor Rajesh Varma holds Praefectus Medicinae status at NVU, with Prof Saqib Mahmud serving as Dean of Primary Care for this collaboration.
Founding Partner · Georgia
East West University
Tbilisi, Georgia · eastwest.edu.ge · Powered by Arizona State University
East West University is an international institution in formal academic partnership with Arizona State University. EWU delivers a rigorous English-language medical programme, with Dr Vishal Kapil serving as Acting Dean of Primary Care within this collaboration.
UK Academic & Delivery Partner
The Essex Medical Society
Hertfordshire & Essex, United Kingdom · mdacumen.com
The Essex Medical Society coordinates the UK academic programme — including the four-week Monday symposium series, placement quality assurance, student pastoral support, and all liaison with host GP practices across Hertfordshire and Essex.
Four-Week Placement Architecture
Each placement block is four weeks in duration, combining supervised in-practice observership with an intensive centralised academic programme every Monday.
Every Monday
Centralised Academic Symposium
All cohort students attend a full six-hour academic programme delivered by the Essex Medical Society. Each of the four Mondays carries a distinct theme: NHS & pathways; consultation skills & CPSA; AKT strategy & clinical topics; and mock examinations with expert feedback.
Tuesday – Friday
GP Practice Clinical Observership
Supervised clinical observership in approved NHS teaching GP practices across Hertfordshire and Essex. Students attend as observers under the direct supervision of a named, registered GP at all times — no independent clinical duties, no prescribing, no unsupervised patient access.
Four-Week Teaching Programme
Six hours of structured teaching per day with morning, afternoon and end-of-day sessions, expert faculty, timed breaks and lunch. All sessions are mandatory for every cohort student.
Understanding the NHS, GMC Pathways and Building Your UK Career
| Time | Session | Key content covered |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Registration, welcome and cohort introductions | Programme overview; housekeeping; cohort introductions |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Session 1 — Understanding the NHS and UK Primary Care Prof R Varma | NHS England structure; integrated care systems; the GP practice model; primary, secondary and tertiary care; clinical systems overview (EMIS / SystmOne) |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Morning break | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Session 2 — GMC Registration: Full & Provisional Registration, Licence to Practise Prof R Varma | GMC registration pathways for IMGs; provisional vs full registration; licence to practise; revalidation; the Medical Prioritisation Act 2024 and its implications |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Session 3 — PLAB/MLA Pathway: Part 1 (AKT), Part 2 (CPSA), Eligibility and Booking Essex Medical Society faculty | MLA Part 1 blueprint; SBA format and domain weighting; Pearson VUE booking; MLA Part 2 (CPSA) station format; eligibility windows; pass marks; combined exam strategy |
| 12:30 – 13:15 | Lunch | |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Session 4 — UKFP, FY2 Entry and Alternative UK Entry Routes Prof R Varma | UK Foundation Programme eligibility for IMGs; FY1/FY2 competitive allocation; MSRA scoring; alternative entry — core surgical training, ACCS, standalone ST1; locum and trust-grade pathways |
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Session 5 — Clinical Risk Management and Medical Indemnity in UK Practice Essex Medical Society faculty | Clinical negligence framework; CNSGP; MDU / MPS / MDDUS; duty of candour (Regulation 20); significant event analysis; complaint handling; CQC quality frameworks |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Afternoon break | |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Session 6 — Boosting Your CV for UK Specialty Training Prof R Varma | Teaching portfolio points; publications and citations; poster and oral presentations; quality improvement (QIA/QIP) and audit cycles; how to write and submit a case report; using AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity) to design and analyse projects; ORCID, ResearchGate, Google Scholar profile setup |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Plenary Q&A and personal action planning | Open questions; signposting to mdacumen.com resources; individual action planning exercise |
Consultation Skills, CPSA Examination Preparation and Clinical OSCE Practice
| Time | Session | Key content covered |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Registration and week 2 overview | Reflection on week 1 observership; learning points from the GP surgery |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Session 1 — The Calgary-Cambridge Consultation Model: Framework and Evidence Base Prof R Varma | Five tasks of Calgary-Cambridge; initiating the session; gathering information; physical examination integration; explanation and planning; closing; evidence base for patient-centred consulting |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Morning break | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Session 2 — Applying Calgary-Cambridge: History Taking and Communication Skills Essex Medical Society faculty | ICE (ideas, concerns, expectations); shared decision-making; breaking bad news framework; cross-cultural communication; health literacy; language barriers in UK consultations |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Session 3 — CPSA Examination: Format, Domains, Marking Criteria and Station Types Prof R Varma | CPSA 2024 GMC blueprint; 16 stations; domain weighting; communication, data interpretation, clinical examination, management planning, and professionalism stations; mark sheet analysis |
| 12:30 – 13:15 | Lunch | |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Session 4 — Practical Clinical Skills: Examination and Data Interpretation for CPSA Essex Medical Society faculty | Structured clinical examination (cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, neurological) adapted to CPSA context; ECG interpretation; spirometry; blood results and imaging in a GP setting |
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Session 5 — OSCE Practice Stations: Group A All faculty — small group rotations | Live stations: chest pain history; newly diagnosed diabetes counselling; cardiovascular examination; prescribing scenario; breaking bad news. Faculty at each station with real-time guidance |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Afternoon break | |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Session 6 — OSCE Practice Stations: Group B All faculty — small group rotations | Live stations: ECG interpretation; mental health presentation; safeguarding scenario; telephone consultation; end-of-life discussion. Continued small group rotations |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Structured group feedback session | Faculty-led whole-group debrief; common errors identified; individual written feedback forms distributed; CPSA revision resources signposted |
AKT Examination Strategy and High-Yield Clinical Topics
| Time | Session | Key content covered |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Registration and week 3 overview | Reflection on week 2 observership; OSCE practice learning points |
| 09:15 – 10:15 | Session 1 — AKT Examination Strategy: Architecture, Question Types and Technique Prof R Varma | MLA Part 1 / AKT 2024 blueprint; SBA question taxonomy; three domains (clinical medicine, critical appraisal, NHS administration); time management; common traps; revision topic frequency weighting |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Morning break | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Session 2 — High-Yield Topic: Cardiovascular-Renal-Metabolic (CVRM) Prof R Varma | CVRM syndrome; QRISK3; hypertension (NICE NG136); dyslipidaemia; type 2 diabetes — SGLT-2 inhibitors, GLP-1 RAs (NICE NG28); CKD (KDIGO 2024); heart failure; AF; obesity; familial hypercholesterolaemia; Lp(a) screening |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Session 3 — High-Yield Topic: Women's Health Prof R Varma | Menopause and HRT (NICE NG23, BMS 2024); contraception — COC, POP, LARCs (UKMEC); cervical and breast screening; abnormal uterine bleeding; endometriosis; PCOS; pre-conception counselling |
| 12:30 – 13:15 | Lunch | |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Session 4 — High-Yield Topic: Cancer in Primary Care Essex Medical Society faculty | NICE NG12 suspected cancer recognition and referral; 2-week-wait criteria; colorectal, lung, breast, prostate, ovarian and haematological malignancy; PSA; FIT testing; red flag symptom clusters; palliative care frameworks |
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Session 5 — High-Yield Topic: Safeguarding in Primary Care Essex Medical Society faculty | Child safeguarding — Working Together 2023; categories of abuse; MARAC; adult safeguarding — Care Act 2014; mental capacity — MCA 2005; domestic abuse — DASH risk assessment; FGM mandatory reporting; Prevent duty; confidentiality thresholds |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Afternoon break | |
| 15:30 – 16:30 | Session 6 — AKT Practice MCQ Session: Timed Questions Across All Domains All faculty | 40-question timed SBA practice paper: CVRM, women's health, cancer and safeguarding domains. Live answer discussion with expert commentary. Question elimination technique and distractor analysis |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Plenary: Examination Technique, Resources and Six-Week Revision Strategy | Recommended question banks; mdacumen.com online modules; spaced repetition tools; constructing a personalised 6-week AKT revision schedule |
Mock Examinations: Full PLAB Part 1 and PLAB Part 2 with Expert Feedback
| Time | Session | Key content covered |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Registration and examination briefing | Examination conditions explained; answer sheet distribution; invigilation rules; exam technique reminders |
| 09:15 – 10:45 | Mock PLAB Part 1 (AKT) — Full Timed Examination Examination conditions · 90 minutes | Full-format mock: 180 single best answer questions spanning clinical medicine, critical appraisal, and NHS / professional domains. Strict examination conditions observed throughout. |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Break — papers collected and marked by faculty | |
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Mock AKT: Question-by-Question Group Debrief Prof R Varma and Essex Medical Society faculty | Every question reviewed: correct answer explanation, all distractor rationale, guideline references. Highest-error questions given extended teaching time. Individual domain score sheets distributed. |
| 12:30 – 13:15 | Lunch — OSCE station briefs issued to students | |
| 13:15 – 14:45 | Mock CPSA (PLAB Part 2) — Full OSCE Circuit All faculty · 8 stations · Examination conditions | 8-station OSCE circuit: acute chest pain history; breaking bad news (cancer diagnosis); cardiovascular examination; data interpretation (ECG + bloods); prescribing safety; mental health consultation; ethics and consent; telephone triage. Faculty examiner at each station using GMC mark scheme. |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Break — examiners complete marking | |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | OSCE: Detailed Station-by-Station Feedback All faculty | Each station debriefed: examiner expectations, common errors, model answer demonstrated. Individual written mark sheets returned. Strengths and development priorities identified per student. |
| 16:00 – 16:45 | Individual Performance Review and Personalised Action Planning One-to-one with faculty | Each student meets individually with faculty to review combined AKT and OSCE performance and construct a personalised revision plan for the live PLAB/MLA examination. |
| 16:45 – 17:00 | Programme close and next steps | Certificate of participation presented; signposting to mdacumen.com PLAB/MRCGP modules; programme evaluation; farewell and onward journey guidance |
Placement Regions and Cohort Structure
| Region | Minimum cohort | Target cohort |
|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | 6 students | 10 students |
| West Essex | 6 students | 10 students |
| Essex | 6 students | 10 students |
| Total | 18 students | 30 students |
Placement capacity will be reviewed iteratively as memoranda of understanding with individual GP practices are finalised. Regional allocations may be adjusted to reflect confirmed practice capacity as the placement network matures.
Regulatory Framework and Pre-Placement Requirements
All placements operate within a comprehensive governance framework aligned with GMC Promoting Excellence standards and NHS England clinical governance expectations.
Student Pre-Placement Compliance
Each student must satisfy all of the following before commencing any observership:
- Verified identity documentation
- Overseas police / criminal record clearance
- Occupational health clearance including immunisation evidence
- UK information governance training (UK GDPR compliant)
- Signed confidentiality agreement
- Valid Standard Visitor visa (permits unpaid UK clinical observership)
- Professional liability insurance arranged by the sending university
Scope of Practice — Observers Only
This programme is a clinical observership, not a placement involving patient care. Students observe under the direct supervision of a named, registered GP at all times, in accordance with GMC Good Medical Practice (2024) and Promoting Excellence: standards for medical education and training. Students have no unsupervised access to patients, clinical records, or clinical systems. Patient consent is obtained in line with GMC guidance. Students maintain a Clinical Log Book, signed each session by the supervising clinician.
Interested in Hosting Students?
We are currently mapping practice capacity across Hertfordshire and Essex ahead of the planned Summer 2026 launch.
Teaching Portfolio
Hosting international observers strengthens your practice's teaching credentials and builds lasting institutional partnerships with two expanding international universities.
Minimal Workload Impact
Students attend strictly as observers with no clinical duties. The Monday symposium programme removes all students from the practice one full day per week — actively reducing on-site supervision time.
Full Governance Support
The programme team conducts a site visit, agrees a formal MoU, and provides all governance documentation — indemnity certificates, student compliance records, DBS and occupational health clearance — before any student arrives.
Expressions of Interest
Whether you are a prospective student, a GP practice, or an international medical school considering future partnership, we welcome your enquiry. The programme team will respond to all expressions of interest as programme details are finalised.
Programme Director: Professor Rajesh Varma · enquiry@mdacumen.com · mdacumen.com
Legal & Disclaimer · enquiry@mdacumen.com