Learning & Teaching Symposium 2017

The School of Medicine’s ‘Learning & Teaching Symposium - The Way Forward’ was held on Monday 24th March 2017.

This year’s symposium was hosted by Professor Rami Abboud (Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching and Head of Postgraduate Division, School of Medicine) and was held at the newly opened Wolfson Lecture Theatre at Ninewells Hospital. It is an annual event which celebrates the high standards of learning and teaching and highlights ways in which the medical school as a whole can grow stronger and move forward via staff feedback gained from a series of masterclasses ultimately to pinpoint School objectives and targets.

Professor Rami Abboud opens the symposium by giving an introduction on ‘Celebrating Learning & Teaching’

The series of Masterclasses, each lasting over two hours, ran concurrently with over 80 attendees from the Medical School and NHS Tayside staff choosing which specific masterclass to attend and participate in.

Masterclass 1: MBChB: How do we get the best from the GMC visit?
Dr Stella Howden, Dr Richard Oparka, Dr David Russell, Dr James Shaw and MSC Co-Presidents.

Masterclass 2: Teaching efficiency and internationalisation: How to bring the world to the BMSc?
Professor Rami Abboud, Professor Tim Hales

Masterclass 3: Sustainability and growth in PG - Taught & Research, In-house and Distance Learning: How do we do more with more?
Professor Chris Barratt, Dr Susie Schofield, Mrs Lesley Lindsay

Masterclass 4: Scholarship/scholarly activities: How do we define, protect and serve them well?
Dr Shihab Khogali, Dr Ashley Dennis

Masterclass 5: More than a Medical School: Can we expand the vision?
Professor Mairi Scott, Professor Tracey Wilkinson

Left: Professor Gary Mires (Dean of Medicine) presents his talk on ‘Learning & Teaching: What is the best way forward?’ Right: Dr Stella Howden (Senior Lecturer in Medical Education & Associate Dean Quality and Academic Standards) presents the outcome of Masterclass 1 with Dr James Shaw, NHS Associate Director for UG Medical Education.

Professor Rami Abboud stated:

“A yearly event to celebrate learning and teaching in highlighting the success of our staff and students is crucial to showcase the excellent work achieved at the school with the support of our colleagues at NHS Tayside without whom we would not have been able to achieve the many successes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. We are the top medical school in Scotland and amongst the top five in the UK, which means that we have to work even harder to maintain our leading position. I am indebted to the ongoing support of many staff at TORT and the School who work tirelessly and beyond their contractual obligations to make my role as Associate Dean for Learning & Teaching as rewarding as possible against many challenges encountered on a daily basis to sustain our activities in a very competitive environment. It was great that Professor Karl Leydecker, Vice Principal for Learning & Teaching, joined us for part of the event and engaged with the audience constructively about the School’s successes and particularly the importance of valuing staff on teaching and scholarship. Finally, thanks to all staff who had taken a role in leading a masterclass, to all those who made an effort to attend and participate in the masterclasses, and finally a special thanks to Mairi (Professor Scott, AD Inter), Stella (Dr Howden, AD QA) and Lori (Mrs Brown, ADM) for their tremendous help and support in making this event a success.”