University of Portsmouth launches a UK first in healthcare education

A new course which will train professionals in the healthcare professions - the first of its kind in the country – is being launched by the University of Portsmouth in October.

The Professional Doctorate in Healthcare Science Education (DHealthSciEd) will address the needs of healthcare professionals involved in teaching and education.
It is aimed specifically at medical and nursing staff and those within the allied health professions and clinical and laboratory sciences.

Within the NHS, a Professional Doctorate is seen as an essential academic qualification for attaining ‘Advanced Practitioner’ and ‘Consultant’ grade posts. The new course is the first to provide the opportunity for those in the profession to establish a doctoral level, evidence-based standard for teaching and learning in the health-related sciences.

The course has been developed in consultation with a range of experts including those in relevant professional bodies and has been welcomed by those in the field.

Professor Clair du Boulay is the Postgraduate Dean at the Wessex Deanery, which is responsible for managing the training and education of doctors and dentists across the health communities of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset and South Wiltshire, incorporating over 50 NHS Trusts. She said:

“This is an innovative and valuable programme for a wide range of health care professionals to enhance their capabilities through education and research grounded in clinical practice. The Wessex deanery endorses this programme and would be happy to recommend it and encourage doctors in training to participate.”

The new programme at Portsmouth focuses on developing health professionals as educational leaders and researchers. The research, which forms a major part of the programme will, have direct relevance and benefit in the education of those in the health-related professions.

Professor Lesley Reynolds is the course director. She said: “The course addresses the unique issues faced by those teaching within the health service. It is designed to be relevant to them and of immediate and direct benefit.”

The course is aimed at those in full-time employment and those enrolled on the course will be supported through on site seminars, workshops, tutorials, and master classes, as well as on-line resources. This professional doctorate benefits from the expertise within the University’s Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, the ExPERT Centre (Excellence in Professional development through Education, Research & Technology), which boasts state of the art facilities and specialists from a wide variety of disciplines including those outside Health Sciences.

The Professional Doctorate is recognised internationally as a qualification granted to those who have reached the highest level of professional research and academic achievement. It starts in October for the coming academic year.