What is medical education?
Throughout history, clinicians have been expected to share their knowledge and experience with colleagues. The word ‘doctor’ means physician, and is derived from the Latin docere, to teach.
In the medical profession, teaching expertise has traditionally been assumed to be a part of clinical or scientific expertise, however in recent years it has become increasingly acknowledged as a skill in it’s own right.
Why is medical education important?
Whether it be supervising students, training junior staff, or more formal teaching responsibilities, the vast majority of healthcare professionals are involved in medical education to some extent. It is not enough to simply be able to perform your clinical duties, you also need to be able to effectively teach and train others, and this is a skill that needs to be learnt.
Simply put, all clinicians, especially doctors, require training in teaching skills and for those who take on more significant teaching responsibilities need a formal qualification in medical education.
Who is medical education for?
Healthcare professionals are increasingly required to have formally recognised teaching qualifications. Health regulators, ministries and healthcare organisations increasingly expect those with teaching responsibilities, mentoring and assessing clinicians, to use evidence-based methodologies and research to underpin their activities.
How can I get into medical education?
If you’re a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife, pharmacist, paramedic, or healthcare professional in a different sector, completing either a PGDip or an MSc in medical education will have a positive impact on your future career prospects.
Whether you are looking to become a GP trainer, a nurse educator, a medical academic, a consultant, or another clinical education role, undertaking a course in medical education will set you apart from the competition and help define your future career pathway.
Not only will a postgraduate diploma or masters in medical education support your career aspirations, it will also help you to shape the future quality of clinical care in your area of expertise by ensuring that your teaching skills are of the highest standard.
How will I find the time to do a postgraduate qualification in Medical Education?
With Learna | Diploma MSc, all of our medical education courses are online and part time, so you can fit your studies around your work and life commitments.
There are no lectures, no seminars and no set times, so you can study flexibly wherever you are in the world, whenever you want. We expect students to dedicate at least 15-20 hours a week to their studies, so it’s not a small commitment but you will be supported throughout by expert tutors and our dedicated Student Services team to ensure you stay on track.
Our distance learning medical education courses follow the principles of self directed learning, with teaching taking place primarily on our academic forum where students can respond to scenario based questions and discussions. To learn more about our unique teaching methods, read our blog on reflective journaling.
Want to find out more about our online medical courses?
All of the information you need to know about our online Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Medical Education, including entry requirements, module content, assessment methods and prices can be found on our website.
You can also book a call with our admissions team to discuss any questions you may have before, during, or after completing your application.
We have two intakes for our medical education courses per year, one in March and one in September. Places are limited and this is one of our most sought after courses, so apply early to secure your place.