The new academic year has started and we welcome our new students to the Medical School. I look forward to meeting you and wish you all the best with your studies. Becoming a doctor is challenging but rewarding, we are proud of our medical education at Southampton and I hope you enjoy your time with us.
I also welcome Roberta Bullingham as our new Academic President for Medicine. She is the vital link between lecturers and academics and our students and represents them on the Faculty’s various committees. I know she will be an effective voice for students at every level and inspire her team of course reps who help and support everyone from freshers to postgraduate researchers. Ellie Seaby stays on for a second year as MedSoc President, I’m sure she is already coming up with some amazing activities for all to enjoy.
I am delighted that we have won a major award for the quality of our student engagement, recognising how our students’ views are heard throughout the Faculty. We have another story about this special partnership elsewhere in this newsletter.
In the Medical Education Academic Unit (AU) Dr Shelley Parr has now taken over as its Director from Dr Faith Hill. Faith and I have been named the first professorial fellows in medical education, a new University initiative to recognise members of staff who work largely in education rather than research. In my opinion, this is a welcome move as it offers an educational career pathway for our lecturers.
This winter will be a busy time for the education team as we prepare for the five yearly Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) inspection in February. The General Medical Council (GMC) will also be paying us a call in November to accredit our unique BMEU programme with Kassel in Germany.