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Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Benefits and incentives of becoming a GP teacher

BSMS > Research > Primary care and public health > Primary care > GP Teachers Resources > Benefits and incentives of becoming a GP teacher

Benefits and incentives of becoming a GP teacher

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The crucial role of GPs in teaching undergraduate medical students

Why GPs Should Teach Undergraduate Medical Students:

  1. Real-World Experience: GP practices provide students with an authentic, patient-centred learning environment. Unlike hospital-based settings, general practices allow students to experience the full breadth of patient care—across age groups, medical conditions, and socio-economic backgrounds. This exposure helps students build essential communication, diagnostic, and clinical skills that are crucial for a well-rounded medical education.

  2. Holistic Approach to Medicine: GPs are trained to see the patient, considering not just their immediate symptoms but also their broader social, psychological, and environmental factors. This holistic approach is a key part of modern medicine and teaching it at an undergraduate level ensures that future doctors are equipped to provide high-quality, patient-focused care.

  3. Strengthening Primary Care: Embedding GP-led teaching in medical curricula fosters a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities in primary care. With the increasing pressures on the NHS, it is essential that the next generation of doctors appreciates the vital role GPs play in the healthcare system, especially in managing long-term conditions and preventative care.

  4. Enhancing Recruitment to Primary Care: Involving medical students in GP practices early on helps raise awareness about the career opportunities within primary care. It can also provide a much-needed boost to recruitment efforts by encouraging more students to consider pursuing a career in general practice, addressing the ongoing shortage of GPs in the UK.
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Incentives for becoming a community GP teacher

Not only do you become part of a larger network of GP teachers across Kent/Surrey/Sussex and nationally, but there are also many incentives to teach.

1. Funding for practices

Teaching fees are payable to practices for delivering community GP teaching, which provides an income stream for the practice and helps to fund any teaching resources, as well as covering some of the administrative costs of facilitating students. Some practices use this income to fund backfill and additional sessions for salaried GPs.

2. Honorary titles and contracts

All GP teachers are eligible to apply for honorary status in respect of their contribution to the medical school, see this section for further details Honorary Titles and Honorary Contracts.

3. Events

You will receive invitations to attend or participate in GP teachers' meetings which occur during the academic year. We also invite all new GP teachers to take the Teaching and Innovation in Medical Education (TIME) course, which is a half day event covering the curriculum, learning objectives/outcomes and tips for facilitating students in your practice. Some GPs are also invited to attend graduation ceremonies.

FInd out more about training and events >

4. Student Evaluation

Knowing the impact you have made on doctors of the future and receiving a student feedback report really cements the value of passing on your knowledge, some students change career choices based on the quality of the GP teaching received. We provide evaluation reports* for practice teams which can also be used for GP revalidation and appraisals.

*Whilst feedback from students is actively encouraged, it’s not mandatory and as such some students choose not to submit any feedback.

5. Expanding portfolio careers

Engaging in the teaching of undergraduate medical students allows GPs to diversify and enhance portfolio careers. This involvement not only enriches professional experience but also provides opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and academic contributions.

Practical benefits for GPs

  • Teaching Opportunities: Many GPs find teaching to be a rewarding way to share their expertise and contribute to the development of future colleagues. It also fosters a collaborative learning environment within the practice.
  • Workforce Development: Training students provides GPs with the opportunity to refine their own skills while also contributing to the overall development of the healthcare workforce. This can have long-term benefits for practice sustainability.
  • Support for GPs: Teaching can be supported through funding or by providing access to resources that reduce the workload burden. Medical schools are often keen to offer training and back-up for GPs involved in teaching to make the process smoother and less time-consuming.

Incorporating GPs into the teaching of undergraduate medical students offers a significant opportunity to enhance the training of the next generation of doctors while also addressing key challenges in primary care. By ensuring that students gain exposure to real-world general practice settings, we not only strengthen the overall quality of medical education but also pave the way for a more resilient and effective healthcare system.

View the benefits of being a primary care supervisor >

View more about the future of primary care >

See more reasons to teach >

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How to and what's next?

Become a community GP teacher (delivering teaching in your practice) 

If you are interested in becoming a GP teacher and would like to have a chat with the team about the opportunities and arrangements for teaching in the community, please complete the GP teacher form and/or contact us for an exploratory conversation.

Click here to complete the GP teachers form >

View important contacts here >

Once you are added to the GP database and we have you set up, your practice will receive details of the students who are allocated to your practice for the upcoming academic year, at which time we will also issue a placement agreement with General Practices providing an outline of the terms and expectations.

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GP teachers resources

Return to the GP Teachers Resources index page to access all materials needed to facilitate and teach students.

Click here to webpage >

Brighton and Sussex Medical School