1. Art and Diseño

A welcoming world
Profile of International Associate Medical Director, Dr Lawrence McAlpine
The global reach of the Federation’s examinations has expanded tremendously under the guidance
of Dr Lawrence McAlpine, MRCP(UK) International Associate Medical Director. He will be demitting
from his post in 2015 after five years in the role.
Over this period, MRCP(UK) has delivered the Diploma examinations and SCEs more than 30,000
times in locations across six continents. The number of places for PACES candidates, in particular,
has been expanded substantially. Dr McAlpine has been especially keen to develop more
opportunities for international candidates to attempt the clinical skills examination, PACES, so they
have a chance to gain the full MRCP(UK) Diploma.
Analysis of demand identified the scale of the need for more PACES places, and Dr McAlpine has led
the expansion of existing PACES centres and introduced new ones in:

Brunei

Kolkata

Myanmar

Sharjah

Sudan

Qatar.
Further centres are already at the planning stage.
Dr Andrew Elder, MRCP(UK) Medical Director, paid tribute to Dr McAlpine’s contributions:
‘Lawrence has made a major contribution to the expansion of PACES internationally and was a
driving force behind our new centres in Brunei, Myanmar, Qatar and Sudan, among others. He was
also closely involved with the PACES redesign project of 2008, which resulted in the introduction of
Station 5 and the new marking scheme.’
Looking back on his time in the role, Dr McAlpine is most struck by the unfailingly friendly welcome
his team has received while promoting and working on the examinations in all corners of the world.
Whether it was small touches such as a bouquet of flowers, or more elaborate greetings from rows
of girls holding candles, the hospitality of local hosts has been outstanding. ‘We are always met
with such a warm welcome,’ Dr McAlpine says. ‘The care and time that our hosts take is very
humbling, especially given that they are busy people.’
Examination hosts are also very generous with their time when it comes to setting up and running
the examinations and supporting candidates. He notes, ‘It has been tremendously enjoyable
working with so many enthusiastic and high-calibre colleagues around the world, and gratifying to
see how many people value the examinations worldwide.’
He also has praise for the UK staff, whose meticulous planning has always ensured that every
aspect of an international examination runs smoothly.
Dr McAlpine first became involved in the examinations nearly 20 years ago, as a PACES examiner
for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. What first attracted him to the
examinations was a sense that ‘working with the Colleges was central to honing and refining the
professional skills of future doctors.’ In 2002, he became Associate Director for Examinations for
the Glasgow College and was Medical Secretary of the Clinical Examining Board from 2004–10. He
also served on the Scenario Editorial Committee for many years and on the Specialty Question
Groups. Dr McAlpine has a long-standing interest in medical education, and has also served as
Training Programme Director for General Medicine with the West of Scotland Deanery.