Recognition for Medical Teaching Associates

Clinical medical students across the University of Oxford are invited to nominate individuals for ‘Teacher of the Term’ to recognise anyone who has inspired them or gone out of their way to teach/supervise/mentor them. Green Templeton congratulates five of its Teaching Associates who have recently been recognised in this way.

Teachers of the Term

Mr Giles Bond-Smith, Surgical Emergency Unit Consultant

‘This year Mr Bond-Smith has consistently provided the most useful, engaging and informative teaching of my clinical studies so far. This weekly teaching was comprised of a mix of small-group tutorials and focused on bedside teaching. The high-yield programme delivered covered the vast majority of the surgical topics for finals, but in addition to concisely and clearly explaining complex content, Mr Bond-Smith also dramatically improved the clinical confidence and diagnostic skills of our group. For the first time, I now feel the knowledge, practice and confidence to approach surgical patients and devise an accurate differential and appropriate further management’

Dr Ifor Capel, Acute General Medicine/ICU

‘Fantastic Acute General Medicine (AGM) ward teaching. Inspiring, thorough and careful teaching. Ifor has provided

• excellent AGM teaching during ward rounds
• general FY1+ teaching during lunch breaks
• small group tutorials both at the bedside and on theory

He has Feynman-like qualities of explaining difficult concepts clearly and is s treasure at this university. We are sadly losing him to Wales next year and I’d like to recognise this dedication to teaching at Oxford University Hospitals and the local district hospitals of the Deanery over the last 10 years.’

Dr Daniel Foran, A&E

‘Daniel was an exceptional 4th year tutor. He did weekly bedside tutorials with us getting us to take histories, examine, interpret results and then going through the topics covered after. Often these tutorials were 2 hours + and Dan’s passion for teaching came out in every single one of them making the learning extremely beneficial and enjoyable. His tutorials were structured and ensured all students in the group got chance to examine each of the key examinations and take histories. He then even provided a mock OSCE with feedback before the OSCE which was incredibly useful. In addition, Dan used a drive to upload resources from the tutorials we had.

‘I think these sessions were some of the most valuable learning I had in my 4th year. Dan took proper time to give constructive feedback, but was also so encouraging when things seemed overwhelming. I felt comfortable and calm going into my OSCE as a result of Dan’s teaching and I feel very lucky to have had him as a tutor.’

Dr Alice Hindmarsh, Internal Medicine

‘Alice is an excellent teacher, always encourage students to get hands on and is very good at finding learning opportunities in anything. Her knowledge-base is broad and her teaching style adaptable to the needs of different student preferences. We cannot thank her enough for all her help.’

Dr Matthew Maton-Howarth, ICU

‘Matt has been a wonderful teacher and has dedicated a huge amount of time to teaching us this year. He always chooses great patients for us to see and develops thoughtful bedside teaching sessions that bring together many elements of different conditions and differentials.’

Each year, Green Templeton selects up to thirty Teaching Associates who provide approximately one hour per week of bedside teaching for small groups of 4th or 6th year students in Oxford mainly (but also at local district hospitals). The college also recruits Teaching Associates in each of the 5th year specialties (Community and Primary Care, Orthopaedics/ Rheumatology/A&E, Women’s and Reproductive Health, Paediatrics, Neurology/Eyes/ENT, and Psychiatry).

Teaching Associates also help at evening seminars where multiple tutors are needed (for example mock OSCE circuits). Most associates are core or specialty trainees (and often alumni of the college). However, any grade of doctor will be considered.

Senior Doll Fellow Dr Sheila Lumley commented,

‘Green Templeton is grateful to all of its Teaching Associates and congratulates these five individuals on this deserved recognition. We are extremely proud of our medical teaching programme and are always working to strengthen it to develop the best possible doctors of the future.’

More about medical teaching at Green Templeton