SSIEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ETAC)

1. Paediatric Metabolic Medicine (PMM) is a recognised subsection of the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP), which is a section of Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS). The SSIEM is delegated to monitor training of clinical paediatric metabolic medicine within the EU.
    
2. The long-term goal is the harmonisation of clinical training and assessment throughout the EU so that there is a uniform (high) standard.
    
3. As a condition of this recognition of the sub-specialty of PMM, the SSIEM has set up a education and training advisory committee (ETAC). Although the SSIEM has no formal role within the EU in the assessment of training for laboratory scientists the SSIEM recognises a responsibility in this area. Consequently ETAC is now comprised of both clinicians and laboratory scientists.
    
4. The current membership of the committee is as follows:
   
   Chairman: John Walter
   Senior Advisor: Jean-Marie Saudubray
   
   

Clinical	Laboratory
Andrew Morris	Brian Fowler
Vassili Valayannopoulos	Mick Henderson
Ute Spiekerkoetter	Christine Vianey-Saban
Shamima Rahman	Jorgen Bierau



5. The responsibilities of ETAC are currently as follows:
   
   Syllabus
   
   Syllabi are published on the SSIEM website for both clinical and laboratory training.
   
   Formal assessment of clinical training centres & training programmes
   
   National societies can apply for centres within their country to be approved for training in PMM. This process requires a formal written application followed by a site visit by 2 members of ETAC. ETAC will then submit their recommendation to EAP.
   As a part of the process for training centre approval the committee will require information about local training programmes and trainee assessment. Training programmes should aim to ensure the syllabus is covered. This may be a problem in small countries as experience may be limited. The authorities have to recognise any limitations and be prepared to fund training elsewhere. If there is insufficient experience in one country the importance of obtaining experience abroad will need to be emphasised. Such work needs to be properly funded and the experience in another country recognised for training. At the present time ETAC will not be responsible for the assessment of individual trainees but may be in a position to provide career guidance.
   
   SSIEM Academy
   
   ETAC now organises an SSIEM Academy course for training in areas of inherited metabolic disease. In 2008 this consisted of a 1 day concurrent course for both paediatricians and laboratory scientists. In 2009 this was increased to two days. It is planned that there will be a continued expansion in training courses as part of the role of the Academy.
   
   Recognition of other courses
   
   The committee will consider application for the recognition of courses suitable for trainees and Continuous Professional development (CPD, also called Continuous Medical education- CME).
   
   Criteria for recognition:
    
   1. The subject must be relevant to those working in Paediatric Metabolic Medicine
   2. The organisers must be independent of sponsors and determine both subjects and speakers
   3. Courses cannot be used to promote the products of one company, although company stands may be permitted
   4. Meetings must be open and not by invitation only

V6.0 June 2009