Institute of Sports Medicine masters course

The Working Party of The Institute of Sports Medicine and University College London (UCL) proposed that a new Course in Sport and Exercise Medicine be set up. After eighteen months of intensive preparation, the course started in September 2000. It is based on the Whittington campus of UCL but can draw on the combined resources of the Whittington, Middlesex, Royal Free, and University College Hospitals. The course is designed as an MSc in the Department of Surgery and concentrates on high academic standards, including training in research techniques and a solid foundation in basic science. Nevertheless, there will be a full clinical exposure to all aspects and candidates will be expected to sit for the Diploma in Sports and Exercise Medicine of the Academy of the Medical Royal Colleges.

The Institute have provided an annual bursary to defray the tuition fees of one candidate, and in this millennial year have also awarded a special Millennial Bursary.

Annual awards ceremony

The Institute of Sport's Annual Awards Ceremony was this year held at The Royal Institution, chaired by Sir David Money-Coutts KCVO. The Guest of Honour was Professor Christopher Llewellyn Smith FRS, the Provost of UCL, who commented in his address that the presence of The Institute physically within the Department of Surgery was an excellent example of the symbiosis between the College and its many guest organisations, each contributing to the good of the others. Three fellowships were awarded by the Institute to Dr Richard Budgett, Director of Medical Services, British Olympic Association and Chairman, BOA Medical Committee (in absentia), Mr Graham Holloway, Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Injuries, Ridgeway and BUPA Cambridge Lea Hospitals, and to Dr Patrick Milroy, Regional Medical Officer to the British Athletics Federation, who gave an entertaining and informative lecture on pitfalls and dilemmas that he had encountered. The Sir Robert Atkins Award was presented to Dr Peter Wilmshurst for services to Diving Medicine, and the recipient of the Millennial Bursary Award, Dr Amir Ali Narvani, was congratulated by the Provost.

Annual symposium

The Institute's Annual Symposium on “Current Dilemmas, a journey through Sports Medicine, Ethics and the Law” was held jointly with the Section of Sports & Exercise Medicine of the Royal Society of Medicine on 8 November 2000. A total of 10 speakers of international repute presented papers to a packed Barnes Hall at the Royal Society of Medicine. Details of further such meetings can be obtained by contacting the RSM.

BASEM Congress 2001

The BASEM Congress 2001 is to be held at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Golf and Country Club, Wales, from 25–28 October 2001. Hosted by BASEM Wales, various topics will be covered from the use of padding in Rugby Union to exercise in extremes of temperature. There will be a free afternoon for sporting pursuits and European Club Rugby Union matches are scheduled for that particular weekend. Further details are available from Mrs Sue Roberts, BASEM Company Office, 12 Greenside Avenue, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 7SA. Tel/fax: 01928 732 961; email: basemoffice{at}compuserve.com.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The BASEM 2001 congress committee invite submissions of abstracts for the presentation of short papers and posters. All abstracts will be peer reviewed externally and anonymously and those selected may be published in BJSM. Awards will be presented including the BASEM Young Researchers Award, presented to the best paper from an author less than 10 years qualified. Those not selected for oral presentation will be invited to present a poster, or poster only presentations may also be submitted. There will be a poster award presented. Enquiries and submissions should be directed to: Dr Tim Jenkinson, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RL. Tel: 01225 473428; fax: 01225 473 437; email: Tim.Jenkinson{at}rnhrd-tr.swest.nhs.uk.

AIRCAST TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP 2001

This fellowship, funded by Aircast Limited Partnership is open to medical practitioners under the age of 40 years, for unpublished work relevant to sport and exercise medicine. It will allow the holder to spend two weeks in a medical centre of excellence in the United States. Receipted expenses, including the airfare, will be awarded to a maximum of £2000.

The work should include a structured abstract of approximately 250 words and body text of a standard format (introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, references and an acknowledgement of support received) of approximately 5000 words. The closing date for submission is 1 August 2001, and the holder will be expected to give a 20 minute presentation of his or her work at the BASEM Annual Congress. For further information, please contact the BASEM office.

If you have any notices of forthcoming events or items of news that would be of interest to readers of the journal, please forward them to the editor at the address on the inside front cover.