Inaugural Lecture: Professor Anne Stephenson

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Join us to celebrate a special milestone for our new professors and hear about their inspiring career journeys. Doors for this event will open on 16:45 (BST), with the lectures to commence at 16:50. A drinks reception will be held at 17:30 immediately after the lecture.

Professor Anne Stephenson

Good Doctoring: the long and winding road

Abstract

The essence of good doctoring is knowledge, skill, and trustworthiness, supported by kind and intelligent healthcare systems. Modern pioneers such as Flexner and Osler helped shape the biomedical training model underpinned by values-based clinical practice, and over my 50 professional years, medical training and healthcare have undergone further significant change. Teaching methods have evolved from teacher-centredness to learner-centredness, focusing on capability, professionalism and communities of practice. Advances in medical science, eHealth, primary care systems and quality assurance have improved healthcare. However, demographic changes, rising costs and challenges with equity and access are causing problems. Good doctoring is proving especially challenging in resource-poor environments with discouraging medico-socio-political cultures. Reflecting on the experiences of earlier generations of patient-focused doctors, one might wonder how they would perceive the healthcare system of today.

Biography

I am a general practitioner and Clinical Professor of Medical Education at King’s College London (Director of Community Education, Professionalism Lead, and Sub-Dean of Student Affairs). With a medical degree from Otago Medical School, New Zealand (1977), and a PhD in Clinical Decision Making in Coronary Care (1985), my experience has spanned across medical practice and academia in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. I have been a GP in South London since 1988 and teaching at King’s College London since 1990. In addition to my medical training, I completed a Street Theatre Training in Australia (1985-1987) and a European Body-Centred Psychotherapy Training (1996-2000). I am a Fellow of the RCGP and Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and serve as Provost of the South London RCGP Faculty.