Over the last 10 years or so I have worked to establish an internationally-recognised medical educational research centre. Under my leadership, CHERI has a global reputation for academic excellence in healthcare education research, known for its high-quality research focusing on relevant issues, and developing tomorrow's researchers. Attracting funding from various external sources, including the General Medical Council and NHS Education for Scotland (NES), I support several members of staff, plus many PhD/MD students carrying out research on topics related to: selection, performance and assessment; medical careers decision making, systems reform and educational change.
We are renowned for our work with large national medical education datasets, such as the GMC’s UKMED (which tracks doctors from application to medical school through training into posts) and the Royal College of Surgeons selection and assessment databases. This work is frequently reported in the popular press and highlighted in the medical press. CHERI also has a very strong reputation for qualitative work, applying socio-cultural and management theory to medical education and training.
CHERI’s research activities are not just rigorous, they also impact on policy and practice. For example, CHERI's research on medical careers decision making feeds up directly to the Scottish Government, and has influenced change (e.g., funding additional medical school places, targeting specific groups for recruitment, addressing issues with working conditions and clinical learning environments). Our work on surgical assessment (led by Scrimgeour) is regularly reported in the medical press.