Coppleson Committee for Continuing Medical Education (CCCME)
The Coppleson Committee for Continuing Medical Education can trace its roots back to the mid 1930s when the need for postgraduate medical education was identified. The Postgraduate Committee in Medicine became the principal body providing postgraduate medical education in New South Wales.
It was not until 1929 that the N.S.W. Branch of the B.M.A. formed a standing committee for the organisation of postgraduate work and a number of courses were given. In 1932, this Standing Committee of the B.M.A. became the autonomous N.S.W. Permanent Postgraduate Committee, consisting of representatives of the B.M.A., the University of Sydney, and the main metropolitan hospitals. V.M. Coppleson became the Honorary Secretary and the Committee became very active in arranging courses in the city and in extending the country courses. It also considered instituting teaching for higher medical qualifications.
The Committee approached the Senate of the University seeking closer cooperation and, in 1935, Senate adopted a new by-law establishing the N.S.W. Postgraduate Committee in Medicine, which took over the functions and the assets of progenitor. Victor Coppleson was already a driving force and, in 1936, the N.S.W. Parliament established the Prince Henry Hospital as a Postgraduate School of Medicine, organised by the Postgraduate Committee, which established an office there. S.A. Smith and Sir Hugh Poate were appointed the first Directors of Medicine and Surgery, respectively, but the advent of World War II interrupted this project.
Between 1944 and 1947 the Committee moved its office form the Royal Australasian College of Physicians building to 131 Macquarie Street. Coppleson became the Honorary Director of Postgraduate Medical Studies and Selwyn G. Nelson joined the Committee. During this time many correspondence courses were conducted for returned practitioners. In 1960 the Committee moved from Macquarie Street to Herford House (owned by the Benevolent Society), in the grounds of the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington. Then, in 1965, it moved to Lucas Street, Camperdown, into buildings owned by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In 1977 it moved the Coppleson Institute, fulfilling Coppleson's dearest wish but, unhappily, after this death. In 1980 the Postgraduate Committee in Medicine became a Faculty of Medicine Subcommittee and the Dean ex officio its Chairman.
An Australian Postgraduate Federation in Medicine was formed in 1948, largely as a result of Victor Coppleson's efforts; he was Honorary Secretary and became President in 1960. Memoranda and Articles were prepared in Sydney by the Committee and, in 1962, the Federation was incorporated in Canberra with representation of all postgraduate organisations, all medical bodies, the Royal Colleges and other appropriate bodies.
The Postgraduate Medical Foundation was established by Senate in 1958 after several years of planning, and a formal launching took place in the Great Hall in 1959 in the presence of the Governor of N.S.W. and the Chancellor. The President was Sir Frank Packer and the Chairman, Mr L. W. Farnsworth. Its object was "..to assist the Postgraduate Committee in promoting education and research in every possible way.." The Medical Foundation is now a separate entity.
The Victor Coppleson Institute of Postgraduate Medical Studies, funded by donations after Sir Victor Coppleson's death in 1965, was inaugurated in the Great Hall of the University in 1971 and the building bearing the Institute's name was opened in 1977.
The Postgraduate Committee in the University of Sydney has played a leading role in continuing education in Australia through Sir Victor Coppleson's vision and drive. Its unique University attachment from its very early days placed it in a position where is could achieve more than its counterparts elsewhere, particularly since its sub-committees have always been dominated by people representing wide interests in the medical community, both academic and professional.
In 2002 the Postgraduate Committee in Medicine changed its name to the Coppleson Committee for Continuing Medical Education. The Faculty celebrated its 150 year in 2006.
The Coppleson Committee no longer operates courses in its own right.