Medical Student Promotion – Versus Arthritis Core Skills in MSK Care, London

Patients with MSK conditions often describe feeling lost and confused, lacking a clear diagnosis or management plan. This is particularly concerning when you consider that one in seven GP consultations relate to these conditions. Compounding this, rheumatology teaching days have on average fallen drastically from 30 to 10 across the student curriculum [1]. Our training aims to change this narrative and equip you with the skills to improve patient outcomes in this critical area.

That’s why we’ve developed the Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care Workshop and MSK Bitesize training sessions.

Professor Iain McInnes, Muirhead Chair of Medicine & Versus Arthritis Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Glasgow, explains why this training is essential:

“In today’s healthcare, a solid understanding of musculoskeletal conditions is essential for all medical professionals, regardless of their chosen specialty. Versus Arthritis Core Skills workshop provides a valuable opportunity for medical students to complement their existing curriculum with practical, up-to-date information. Whether you pursue a career in general practice, or any other field, you will undoubtedly encounter and support patients living with arthritis and related MSK conditions. This workshop equips you with the foundational skills and confidence to provide effective care, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and your own professional development. Finally, the workshop will give you more than skills – it will offer insights to the realities of living with arthritis that will inspire and enthuse you in your practice – I wholeheartedly recommend it!”

Core Skills is a practical program designed to equip primary healthcare professionals with the confidence and expertise to accurately diagnose and manage MSK conditions. Our training provides delegates a supportive environment to develop confidence and skills in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with MSK conditions.

Previous delegates reported a 47% increase in knowledge of the subject area following the training, a 30% increase in examination skills and a 31% increase in confidence diagnosing and treating patients with MSK conditions.

“This course exceeded my expectations, the content and delivery was very relevant to my role, so much so I have used the information for 3 patients already this morning.”
Core Skills Delegate – September 2023

“I actually applied my knowledge and skills I learned from this course to one of my patients with ongoing MSK problem and I was able to satisfy her in terms of unnecessary imaging.”

Core Skills Delegate – March 2025

MSK Bitesize is a 3-hour webinar on MSK conditions that can present in primary care and the role of physical activity in preventing and managing MSK conditions. Topics include inflammatory arthritis, fibromyalgia, gout and more.

Please note: This session will be recorded and shared with all registrants, allowing you to watch at your convenience if you are unable to attend the live webinar.

Our upcoming sessions:

  • Core Skills Workshop: Tuesday 10th June 2025, 9am-5pm at Lift Islington, 45 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PW (in-person)
  • MSK Bitesize: Thursday 17th July 2025, 6-9pm (online)

Cost: £220 – please note we do have a limited number of discounted student places at £50, please ask the student to contact us directly if they would like to take advantage of this rate.

To secure your place, please register here: Core Skills Workshop London + MSK Bitesize

For a detailed overview of the workshop curriculum and learning objectives, please visit: Training courses for healthcare professionals

Further details are also available in the attached flyer.

We would be grateful if you could share this opportunity with your students.

Thank you for your time and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

Ashley

Other useful resources for your students:

Reference:
[1] Undergraduate rheumatology teaching in the UK: a survey of current practice by teachers and students | Rheumatology Advances in Practice | Oxford Academic