Leadership training in the undergraduate medical curriculum

A three-day programme of training in leadership was delivered to Hull York Medical School (HYMS) fourth year undergraduate medical students as a student-selected component of the course. It was evaluated by pre- and post-course questionnaire. Students supported the notion of leadership training for all medical students before and after the course. The students showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in support after the course for the notions that leadership can be learnt and that everyone is a leader. They also became significantly (P < 0.05) more aware of the differences between leadership and management and expressed increased confidence in their own leadership skills following the course. These conclusions must be tempered by the small number on the course and self-selection of students.