Virchow said:
“Science in itself is nothing, for it exists only in the human beings who are its bearers.”
I agree. The human beings who make my professional life so rich, are the colleagues, patients and students I work with. It is partly these human connections which led me to medical education. How we teach and learn as doctors opens doors into the social sciences, history, psychology and philosophy.
I completed a PGCert in medical education at UCL/Royal College of Physicians, and then a Diploma in Clinical Education at the Institute of Education. These opened my eyes to the theoretical basis of educational practice, and the ways in which educational policy is made and implemented.
I have found valuable support, and also collaborators, via social media, and continue to be surprised and encouraged by its truly collaborative nature. If you wish, you can see some aspects of my interest in medical education here (some are more up to date than others!):
- Twitter – my personal account is @drlaurajane,
- Twitter – my work department account is @KingsResp and each week in #ThoracicThursday I share a quiz question in the style of the MRCP Speciality Certificate Examination.
- Google Scholar – publications, both clinical and educational
- Linked.in – professional profile
- MRCP(UK) – I was a trainee representative on the Clinical Examination Board and Scenario Editorial Committee for the MRCP PACES examinations until 2019, as well as the review of this exam, the PACES2020 project
- RespNETLondon – an educational site I ran up until Jan 2019 for Respiratory trainees in NorthEast London, in my role as trainee representative.
- Respiratory Futures Trainees – I worked with the British Thoracic Society to create a digital resource for Respiratory Trainees
I have co-written two books on Respiratory Medicine:
drlj 
Hey LJ. I was one of your medical student at Queens Hospital with Dr Jubber last year. It’s great to see you’ve continued your passion of teaching as well as providing a fascinating insight into medicine with your blog. Hope you’re well and enjoying your new role. Simon
Thanks – great to hear from you! What lovely comments. Hope you’re well and still enjoying your training.
Hello, I am bringing out a book which is loosely related to depression and wondered if you would consider reviewing it for me please. Thank you.
look forward to coming with my wife to the death cafe in peckham in May. i have been on a five year journey hoping to contribute to improving end of life care due to personal experiences and frustration . hope the message from the safety alert linked here has got through the education system, to front line hospital care where it needed. health services respecting and working with established symptom control is so important. Atul Gawande’s book Being Mortal describes the challenge for us all very well i believe but keen to find more good literature like this https://endoflife.org.uk/2015/07/01/richard-from-london-tells-his-story-about-his-mother-celia/
I look forward to meeting you too. I’m sorry that your experience of your mother’s death in hospital was difficult and frustrating, and that you were not listened to. I agree with you that we can improve end of life care. To do so we all need to talk and listen, particularly to relatives who have been with their loved ones when they died. I also have some book recommendations to follow on from ‘Being Mortal’! I look forward to talking to you in person in May.