The Niche Examination Teaching Series began in 2023 with a simple mission: to bridge a persistent gap in undergraduate medical education. As foundation doctors, we found that many final-year and Year 4 medical students felt confident with core examinations — but consistently underprepared for less commonly taught, yet clinically essential, nicheexaminations such as cerebellar, thyroid, speech and swallow, and vascular assessments.
To address this, we developed an accessible, near-peer-led teaching programme delivered virtually between 2023 and 2025. Across eight structured sessions, we covered a wide range of specialised examinations including:
- Speech and swallow assessment
- Cerebellar examination
- Fluid status assessment
- Thyroid and lymph node examination
- Peripheral vascular examination
- Diabetic foot / Foot and ankle examination
- Hand, wrist and spine examination
- Shoulder and elbow examination
The series was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Across 106 responses, students rated both usefulness and relevance at over 9.4/10 on average, with 100% stating they would recommend it to peers. Confidence in performing niche examinations increased by an average of 75%, with some sessions more than tripling students’ self-reported confidence.
What began as a regional teaching initiative quickly gained national recognition — the programme was later presented at the National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day (NFDPD) in the UK, showcasing its impact as a scalable, equitable model for clinical education.
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