PAs among healthcare professionals starting first fast-track medical degree

Stock photo. Getty/FatCamera

By Daniel Pye

The first students have joined a fast-track medicine degree for healthcare professionals who want to retrain as doctors.

King’s College London has launched the first four-year healthcare entry medicine (HEM) programme aimed at professionals including nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, pharmacists and physician assistants (PAs).

Applicants must have at least two years NHS experience in a patient-facing role and a minimum of a 2:1 in a healthcare profession degree.

The course plans to take 10 students this year, 10 students next Autumn, and possibly expand to 40 students in 2028.

Four-year graduate entry medicine courses are well established, but the university said this programme created a “dedicated route” for those who may not reach the entry requirements for undergraduate medicine or would need to compete for highly sought-after graduate-entry programmes not tailored to their experience.

'New route into medicine'

Dr Liza Kirtchuk, who is leading the programme, said: “The programme creates a new route into medicine, making the transition more accessible while valuing and building on the rich experience our students already bring.”