BSc, MB ChB, PG Dip, MAcadMEd
Ed is a Bristol Medical School graduate, working as a Clinical Lecturer at the medical school and Speciality Teaching Fellow and Tutor at South Bristol Academy, based in the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
He is currently finishing his MSc dissertation exploring students’ experiences and perceptions of using simulation as a method to teach human factors and non-technical skills, as part of his studies on the Health Professionals Education (TLHP) course.
Research areas: simulation, undergraduate medical education, human factors and non-technical skills
What inspired you to become an educator and/or education researcher?
I was really inspired by all of the amazing teachers and educators that I met on my journey through medical school at Bristol. This included many extremely enthusiastic and gifted Clinical Teaching Fellows, who I saw as wonderful role models. I aspired to be like them in my future career, and planned to work as a Clinical Teaching Fellow after completing my Foundation Training.
I was fortunate to get a job as a CTF, and during this, I was encouraged to pursue some small medical educational research projects and was supported by some excellent seniors, including some more experienced CTFs, who allowed me to start exploring the world of education research. After this, I was hooked and was determined to incorporate education research into my educational career!
What is your current medical education research project on?
I’m currently writing my dissertation for my MSc in Health Professionals Education (previously Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals or TLHP). I chose to explore students’ experiences and perceptions of using simulation as a method to teach human factors and non-technical skills. These are two areas that I’m really passionate about, using simulation as a teaching and learning tool, and the interplay of humans, communication, environment and everything else, that forms human factors and non-technical skills. I’m relatively new to qualitative research, but I’ve thrown myself into it and am really enjoying all the new skills I’m learning along the way.
Who are your medical education/education research role models?
I’ve been privileged enough to be taught by and now work with many amazing individuals at Bristol Medical School. These include Professor Karen Forbes, Professor Andrew Blythe and Dr Sarah Allsop. All of whom have provided advice and guidance as I develop my academic and educational career. I also admire and looked up to many of my former CTFs who inspired me to apply for the roles that opened many doors to get me to where I am today.
What would you consider your greatest academic success?
Helping to support all the students I have worked with, through various challenges, to achieve their academic potential. Many of them have now graduated and started working as doctors, and some of whom I have since met as colleagues!
Have you ever had a piece of work go wrong and how did you deal with this?
Many! Ask for help. Find someone who can support you. See if there are any solutions that you might not have thought about at first and don’t give up initially. But also reflect. And know when it is a better use of your time to let this one go, learn from it and put your time into something more productive.
What helps you to maintain your work life balance as a medical educator/researcher?
I think this is something that I struggle with generally. My wife is amazingly supportive of all of my endeavours, both work-related and outside of work. I like to set myself challenges and have completed a few triathlons, including an Ironman distance event. My 2 young sons keep me busy at home and seeing friends and family is extremely important to me and keeps me grounded. I think that trying to carve out time to focus on things away from work is important, and something I am trying to do more of.
What do you think will be the greatest change to medical education over the next decade?
The ever-increasing demands placed on the national health service, from all angles, is a huge challenge. I see this especially, in my clinical work as an Emergency Medicine Doctor. This will require more health professionals to be employed, meaning increases in education, both undergraduate and postgraduate, increases in student numbers, and changes in the ways we plan and deliver teaching, requiring innovation across the board, as well as more inter-professional and cross-institution collaboration.
What is your favourite quote?
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results” – Albert Einstein.
If something doesn’t work, give it a couple of goes, but don’t keep ploughing on with it. You never know what trying something else might lead to!
What book are you reading at the moment?
I’m not a big reader, so I often start something and never quite finish it…but the books that I really got into were all from Atul Gawande. He captivated me and I couldn’t put them down.
What job would you do if you were not a medical educator/researcher?
I spent a season working in the French Alps before starting medical school, and then also worked as a SCUBA diving instructor. My youthful dream would be to work as a skiing instructor in the winter and teach people to SCUBA dive in the summer. Or, working as a barista in a speciality coffee shop somewhere, as my other hobby is trying to perfect making and then drinking delicious coffee.
What three top tips would you give to new medical education researchers?
- Research things that interest you
- Make contacts near and far and collaborate with others
- Find a supervisor and value their experience