About the course organisers and presenters
The course is researched, written and presented by Simon Curtis and Barrie Ferguson. They co-founded the course in 1998.
Simon Curtis MBBS, MRCP, MRCGP
Simon is a GP at a training practice in central Oxford. He does 7 clinical sessions a week and 3 working on the Hot Topics course. He qualified from Middelsex/UCH in 1988 and started his career in hospital medicine, gaining MRCP in 1992. After drifting through various medical specialties he ‘saw the light’ and moved into General Practice in 1995, doing his GP registrar year in Oxford and passing his MRCGP with distinction. He has worked as a partner, salaried and locum GP in the UK, Australia and Italy. He also has experience as a VTS Course Organiser and as a University Tutor in primary care. He is the co-author of the popular My First nMRCGP book. He has a genuine passion and enthusiasm for General Practice which is reflected in his teaching style.
Barrie Ferguson MBBS, MRCP, MRCGP
Barrie is a GP in Exeter. She works part-time in the practice and part-time on the Hot Topics course. She founded the course with Simon in 1998. She left in April 2001 to start her family and returned to the course in Autumn 2007. She trained in London at Barts, qualifying in 1989. She started her career in hospital medicine, gaining MRCP in 1993. She did 2 years research with the Department of Neurology in Oxford before discovering general practice - a career move she has never regretted! She did her GP training in Oxford, passed MRCGP with distinction in 1998 and has been with her current practice since 1999 juggling patients, small children and Hot Topics!