Education programs at the new Australian School of Advanced Medicine at Macquarie University

• The Australian School of Advanced Medicine at Macquarie University, Sydney, will provide competency-based university medical specialist training in a private hospital environment. • The rationale is the need for additional and innovative programs to meet emerging demands, and alternative training programs to increase the opportunities for doctors to achieve their career goals. • The programs will focus on learning (not teaching), on developing a comprehensive set of professional competencies, on teamwork, and on research. • Special features of the programs include: the potential for scholars to progress at a variable pace; the use of facilities for simulation and practice; and rigorous evaluation. • The school is developing strong linkages with other institutions, nationally and internationally. • Challenges include the recruitment of fee-paying trainees; the time commitment required of faculty members; a reliable and bias-free assessment system; and ethical concerns about undertaking training activities on private patients.