Mater registrars achieved a 90 per cent pass rate in the recent Basic Physician Training (BPT) exams – trouncing the national average of 60 per cent.
Their achievement has set a new benchmark for BPT which is a pivotal milestone in a doctors’ journey towards becoming a physician.
To honour the outstanding achievement, Mater Health Director of Physician Education and Director of Neurology Dr Andrew Swayne said the inaugural Basic Physician Training Excellence Awards have been established.
The awards recognise the Mater people who sat the exam as well as those who helped them prepare.
The award winners are:
Consultants: Drs Lisa Cummins and Robert Carroll
Advanced trainees: Drs Aine Peoples and Amanda Goh
Exam sitters: Drs Ken Au, Vikas Bhasker and Tom Trevis
BPT comprises two rigorous exams: a written exam with approximately 160 questions covering various medical topics and a clinical exam which may require candidates to travel across Australia or New Zealand.
The exam also entails diagnosing complex patient cases with limited prior information.
Registrars who do not pass BPT exams face a year-long delay before being able to retake the test.
Dr Swayne said Mater’s senior doctors and other clinicians set up the registrars for success.
“They offered lectures, presented challenging cases and simulated real testing conditions with mock exams to ensure thorough preparation,” he said.
In addition to their BPT success, Mater registrars and doctors also achieved one of the highest pass rates in the state for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) exams.
Dr Swayne said the results of both exams positioned Mater as a hospital of choice for junior physician trainees.
He acknowledged the legacy of success built over the years, with predecessors like Lisa Cummins and Jared Eisemann contributing significantly to a culture of excellence.
Pictured: (Back, left to right) Mater Hospital Brisbane, Department of Medicine Chief Medical Registrar Dr Daniel Mazzoni, exam sitters Drs Vikas Bhasker, Ken Au, Tom Trevis and Matthew Hon. (Front, left to right) Mater Brisbane Rheumatologist Dr Lisa Cummins, Haematology Advanced Trainee Dr Amanda Goh, exam sitters Drs Phoebe Tin, Yasmin Trinh, Andrea Huang and Mater Hospital Brisbane Respiratory Consultant Dr Robert Carroll.