Dr. Adam Malin from Bath is the National Association of Clinical Tutors United Kingdom Traveling Fellow for 2018.

The Fellowship is part of an exchange program between NC AHEC and the National Association of Clinical Tutors (NACT) UK. The North Carolina counterpart is known as the Eugene S. Mayer Fellowship.

Adam works three days a week as a pulmonologist at Royal United Hospitals Bath and as Associate Postgraduate Dean of the Severn Postgraduate Medical Institute, Health Education England (HEE). He also sits on the council for the NACT UK, holding the office of Honorary Secretary. His HEE responsibilities include providing professional support for postgraduate trainees (encompassing residents and fellows in the US). This includes 2,200 trainees across 11 hospitals and primary care. Adam’s interests include a focus on health and wellbeing, resiliency, and burnout, and he is excited to have the opportunity to compare and contrast the professional systems for trainees/residents in both countries.

“Exploration of another advanced program will provide a useful development opportunity and give me time to reflect on what we currently use,” Adam stated in his fellowship application. “Similarly, we may have existing systems and processes in our own professional support units that can be shared with NC AHEC.”

For example, in the UK, trainees (residents) work 48 hours a week, as opposed to the 80 hours a week US residents work. One would predict that US residents would suffer more from burnout, but Adam noted that isn’t always the case.

“The training in the UK is stressful (as in the US) but is, perhaps, intensified by compacting so much into 48-hour work weeks. In addition, trainees frequently work with different teams, so they don’t develop the same camaraderie and peer support system. However, the upside is trainees in the UK have more time for rest and de-stressing out of the workplace.”

According to a study conducted by JAMA Internal Medicinein October 2018, 50 percent of American doctors are suffering burnout, doubling the risk of patient safety incidents. This sets up a vicious cycle that promotes even more burnout and depression.

During his two-week fellowship in the US, Adam visited AHECs at Charlotte, Greensboro, Asheville, Wilmington and Wake. He presented his observations in a lecture titled, “Health for Health Care Providers: Reflections from over the Pond,” on Friday, October 12.

Visit ncahec.net for more information about NC AHEC fellowships and awards.