Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
I studied for my medical degree at Newcastle University, and after doing my foundation years I decided to take some time out and worked in New Zealand as well as doing some travelling. When I came back to the UK I started my training in Emergency Medicine. I had always enjoyed teaching, and took a year out of training to do an Education Fellow post and studied for a Certificate in Teaching and Learning. I enjoyed this so much, a few years later I decided to leave training and move into Medical Education full time. I started my current post as a Teaching Fellow in August 2021, and I’m really enjoying myself. I finished a MA in Education for Clinical Contexts at QMUL last year, and did some research into how doctor experience uncertainty. As well as uncertainty, I’m interested in clinical communication, professional identity formation, healthcare worker wellbeing and widening participation. I feel very lucky that my current role working on the Extended Medical Degree Programme and teaching clinical communication encompasses all these interests, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds!
What do you think people in the Centre would find most surprising about you?
As a child I was in the musical “Annie” in the West End, and I was also an extra in the film “Fever Pitch” – I got an autograph from Colin Firth for my Mum!
Do you have any current projects that you’d like to tell us about?
I’m currently working on a number of projects that I’m excited about – the EMDP team successfully applied to the Education Innovation fund, and we are now staring two projects looking at what additional support students on the EMDP would find useful throughout their time at King’s and career outcomes of EMDP students. I am also hoping to study for a PhD here at King’s, so I am working on putting a proposal together at the moment. I’m interested in how personal identities, such as gender, ethnicity, socio-economic class, influence professional identity formation in medical students.
What do you do with your time outside academia?
I have two young children, so I spend a lot of time playing either at home or at the park! As well as spending time with family, I enjoy reading novels, and after watching Great British Sewing Bee I have started making clothes for myself and my family.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
I am really looking forward to taking part in the academic procession this year at graduation. It will be lovely to see the students able to graduate in person after Covid, and for me personally it is an important moment in my transition from doctor to academic!
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is probably writing a dissertation for my MA, whilst working full time and being a Mum to my 3 and 5 year old!
What is your favourite thing about working at King’s?
My favourite things about working at King’s is the freedom and flexibility I have to shape my working life, and the people I work get to work with.
QUICK-FIRE…
- Favourite cuisine: Italian
- Netflix recommendation: Stranger Things
- One thing you could not go a day without: Tea
- Most-used emoji: 😊