Nomination for membership of the MRCP(UK) Specialty Question Groups

The Royal Colleges of Physicians established the MRCP(UK) Specialty Question Groups (SQGs) in 1999 in order to generate sufficient questions for the new format MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 Written Examinations. The demand for questions has increased progressively during the last few years, leading to a need to expand the SQGs, and the MRCP(UK) Central Office is now seeking additional question writers. There are currently fourteen SQGs:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical haematology, oncology and palliative medicine
  • Clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology
  • Clinical science (molecular medicine, genetics, anatomy, physiology, immunology and statistics)
  • Dermatology
  • Endocrinology and metabolic medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Infectious diseases, venereology and tropical medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology and ophthalmology
  • Psychiatry
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Rheumatology

Each SQG comprises up to 12 members of the specialty concerned and has responsibility for writing new questions, which members discuss at two-day meetings of all the SQGs held twice yearly (in May and November) in Glasgow, Edinburgh or London. Appointment to membership of the SQGs is normally for a period of five years but is potentially renewable. It is a condition of appointment that members of the SQG are regularly available for the twice yearly meetings, and undertake to draft the required number of questions on selected topics in advance of each meeting.

All personal expenses to cover the costs of participating in SQG meetings will be met by the Colleges, and members will be entitled to claim external CPD credits for attendance. Meetings afford a valuable opportunity for physicians to update their knowledge and to interact with other physicians from all parts of the country.

Applicants must

  • Be Fellows or Members of one of the Royal Colleges (consultants or specialist registrars)
  • Be practising in some aspect of clinical medicine, either with a sub-specialty or area of interest relevant to a specific SQG, or in Acute/Emergency Medicine.
  • Provide evidence of an interest and regular participation in educational activities.

Applicants should submit a brief outline of their professional activity, together with a resume of their experience in medical education, to the Chairman of the MRCP(UK) Specialty Question Groups, Dr John Mucklow, at the address below:

Dr John Mucklow
MRCP(UK) Central Office
11 St Andrews Place
London NWI 4LE
(Tel 020 7935 1174 ext 320)

Successful applicants will be expected to attend a one-day training session, after which they will be invited to attend an MRCP(UK) Specialty Question Group meeting.