The Editor
The Editor is Dr Ramesh Mehay. He is a GP and GP Trainer in Bradford and was a Training Programme Director for the Bradford GP Training Scheme for over 15 years.
The GP Training Years
Dr. Ramesh Mehay qualified from Leeds University in 1993. A little lost after his house officer year, he tried out various hospital specialties in Northern Ireland and Greater Manchester. After five years as a nomad, he gave General Practice a shot and fell in love with it through a training post in Sherburn-In-Elmet (York GP VTS). A second placement in Acomb (also in York) ignited his passion for teaching, inspired by an extremely enthusiastic Trainer, Peter Harrison.
First taste of Teaching
Once qualified, Ramesh’s first taste of teaching came from the local Yorkshire MRCGP course, run by Neal Maskrey. There he met Nick Price, who enticed him into becoming a Course Organiser (the old name for Training Programme Director) for the Bradford VTS, along with himself and Maggie Eisner. He applied and was appointed in 2001 by Jamie Bahrami (the founder of the Association of Course Organisers) who said it was time to take a risk before his retirement! As a young GP educator, still yet to become a Trainer, his Course Organiser colleagues became invaluable mentors.
What else?
Ramesh is well-known for two things. The first is the Bradford GP Training Scheme’s website (www.bradfordvts.co.uk). This holds an extraordinarily diverse number of online resources for both GP Trainers and trainees, and received the Paul Freeling award in 2009. The second is the guidance he has developed for trainers and trainees around the new format MRCGP, at a time when support was generally deficient. His resources are popular because of his ability to simplify the complex, and also for the dynamic and lively way in which the material is presented. In 2009, when the UKAPD executive committee decided a new book was needed for GP training and education, it was for these reasons that Ramesh was asked. This book is the result of that invitation.
And now?
In 2016 Ramesh decided to step down from being a Training Programme Director after 15 years. It was time to let some other young person have a go. Shortly after, he also stepped down from his Senior Honorary Lecturer role at Leeds University after having taught on the PGCE course for 7 years.
He continues to be a GP Trainer and partner at Ashcroft Surgery in the Eccleshill district of Bradford. He STILL continues to develop more and more online GP training learning resources – available on www.bradfordvts.co.uk .
And for those of you who know him and get emails at 3 a.m. – yes, he sleeps an average of 5 hours per day and has done so since reckless student days. Some things never change!
Oh and he continues to love rubbish TV!