The importance of teacher training in Medical Education

Teachers are a medical school or postgraduate body’s greatest asset¹. Our Medical Education PGDip and MSc courses have been born out of a necessity to train and provide healthcare professionals with the theory needed to prepare a current and future generation of healthcare professionals.

At some point in their career, all doctors are involved on some level in the training or supervision (formal or informal) of students, junior staff and other professionals. It is not reasonable to accept that doctors need only rely on their clinical knowledge as effective trainers. In fact, effective teaching techniques are now a requirement for doctors, as highlighted by the General Medical Council².

The need for high-quality teaching staff was also reinforced by commitments to education and training in the NHS Plan emphasising CPD, lifelong learning, increasing training commissions for doctors and other healthcare professionals, inter-professional learning and working, and preparation of students and staff for new roles and new ways of working. Medical practitioners bring their experience and expertise in clinical medicine to their work as educators. In addition, developing as a medical educator affects and enhances clinical practicel³. It would not be unreasonable to correlate better teaching techniques and practices with high standards of educational outcome and better future doctors.

Our Diploma and Masters courses in Medical Education have been developed for Doctors, GPs, Healthcare Professionals and those with related undergraduate degrees (e.g. Pharmacists) or equivalent professional qualifications and background experience, and those who wish to develop their skills in this area of work, who may be expected to teach.

The course aims to enable graduates to develop a critical knowledge and understanding and application of Medical Education, and are designed to

• help students facilitate a better understanding, critically review, and reflect on contemporary adult learning and medical education literature relating to the application of technology.
• enable students to upskill in teaching practices.

On completion of our course, students will be able to develop the following knowledge, understanding and skills to the appropriate level:

• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of specific issues at the forefront of theory and practice in medical education.
• A critical understanding of medical education theories and principles to inform educational practice.
• An advanced knowledge of educational methods and practice.
• A critical understanding of the intricacies of adult pedagogy.
• Whatever your role is in the training of tomorrow’s doctors, whether it be undergraduate, postgraduate or continuing education, if you are interested in applying for a Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Medical Education or would like more information please get in touch.

¹https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=yTE_DAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=teacher+training+in+medical+education&ots=gh-1C6k0Uc&sig=4IPmt88gKSkSNJbC8f3nMHjuZEk#v=onepage&q&f=false
²http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards.asp
³http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tct.12358/full

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