TWO IN THIS ISSUE

Why fellowship may not be for life.

Paul Smith GIVEN the blood, sweat and tears

involved in its acquisition, the fellowship

postnominal holds a deep emotional

value for many specialists.

So, the debate about the rights

and wrongs of colleges preventing those specialists from using their postnominals should they ever stop paying the membership fees burns hot— even if it is a heat that the colleges themselves would prefer to ignore.

‘ They are not prepared to give it up.’

But it is relevant now because of the rise of independent CPD homes.

In what is just one salvo by governments to dismantle what they believe are unjustified college monopolies, CPD homes were created so specialists could meet their CPD obligations to remain on the specialist register without being forced to pay thousands in membership fees to do their college’ s CPD program.

will they now be prevented from

professional commitment.

Professor Owen Ung.

those who leave the college face

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AMA WA, which was one of the

using their postnominals?

“ The FRACS is a strong brand

being stripped of the FRACS— largely

first to open an independent CPD

Professor Owen Ung, president

recognised not just here but interna-

because, he says, the FRACS is not

home, says of its current 9500 CPD

of the Royal Australasian College

tionally,” he tells Australian Doctor.

strictly a qualification.

home members, around 1500 are specialists.

Assuming those doctors have

of Surgeons, is one of those who says they should be. He insists postnominals, once granted, are not for

“ I do think many fellows want their FRACS and they are not prepared to give up that postnominal.”

“ It is not us stripping it off them, but it goes with membership. That is what I have trouble explaining to

Paul Smith

Editor

binned their college membership,

life, that they demand an ongoing

He rejects the suggestion that

my colleagues. It is not a

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