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Staff Profile

Professor Gill Vance

Professor of Medical Education

  • Email: gillian.vance@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 4525
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 208 5016
  • Address: School of Medical Education
    The Medical School
    Newcastle University
    NE1 7RU

Background

 

I came to Newcastle in 2005 as a consultant paediatrician. In this role I soon developed an interest in medical education and was appointed as Tyne Clinical sub-dean (2008-12) with management responsibility for all undergraduate programmes in this Base Unit.

I moved to the University in 2012 to continue an interest in medical education research, and have developed a programme of research inquiry around transitions in medical education and translation to clinical practice along with Dr Bryan Burford.

I continue to work as a paediatric allergist at the Great North Children's Hospital, and have ongoing teaching and supervision commitments to undergraduate SSC students, academic and higher specialist trainees. I am a member of the faculty for the online allergy module in the Clinical & Health Sciences programme. 

I also supervise/co-supervise trainees undertaking research projects - Masters in Medical Education, MD & PhD.

 


Research

 

Our research interests focus on the transitions which take place through medical education and how these translate to, or shape the experience and clinical practice of doctors, and other health professionals. Key transitions include: entering the undergraduate programme; progressing through this, graduation and beginning work in the NHS, progressing through post-graduate training and the associated career choices.

Research questions that arise from these areas are broadly:

  1. How do people become doctors? (Questions of subjective experience of these transitions, professional identity development and socialisation).
  2. How can education make these transitions easier and safer? (Questions of process and curriculum issues, including widening participation to medical education, the development and utility of simulation and technology enhanced learning, the role of inter-professional learning).

 

We have recently published research funded by the General Medical Council (GMC) that explored the actuality of the work of Foundation Programme doctors and what a junior doctor is for in the multi-professional, changing workplace (BMJ Open, 2019).

We are currently undertaking a national evaluation of the GMC's 'Trainer Recognition Framework'. An understanding of the factors determining success of implementation and impact will help shape this policy in education and training. 

Teaching

 

I continue to be actively involved as a clinical teacher in my main clinical specialty of paediatric allergy & immunology.

I supervise undergraduate students undertaking both allergy and medical education SSCs, along with higher specialist trainees.

I have developed a new on-line module in allergy, as part of the Newcastle University Masters in Clinical & Health Sciences. I am module lead for this 14 week programme.

I also contribute to delivery of the Masters in Clinical Education programme and supervise/co-supervise trainees undertaking medical education research projects - as an undergraduate student, MD or PhD student.

I also represent national training pathways as the allergy advisor on the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Specialty Advisory Committee (CSAC).  

 

Publications