Welcome to our Medical Demonstrators
The School of Medicine is delighted to welcome the 2021/22 Medical Demonstrator cohort. Medical Demonstrators play a key role teaching across our ScotGEM and BSc curricula. The role provides an opportunity for foundation doctors who have completed their FY1 and FY2 to broaden their skill set in medical education. From teaching anatomy dissection classes and clinical skills, Demonstrators also contribute to assessment and examine Anatomy practicals and OSCE Exams.
The School considers work in the Dissecting Room a particularly rich learning experience which encourages observation of unique human material; training in group work and oral presentations; excellent opportunities for interaction between students and demonstrators and, in addition, an opportunity for the discussion of professionalism and ethical behaviour in relation to those who have donated their bodies.
We asked this year’s Medical Demonstrators why they applied for the role and what attracted them to St Andrews. Ben Keatley, a former BSc graduate from the School who joins us from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust stated: “I’m very excited to be heading back to St Andrews after graduating in 2016, I loved my time studying in Fife and fingers crossed I can pass on that same experience to the next group of students.” Sarah Jarvis, also a graduate of St Andrews added: “Since studying at St Andrews I had always wanted to come back as a medical demonstrator – I’m looking forwards to the opportunity to be involved in medical education and can’t wait to be back in St Andrews for a year!”
Rachel Pennington who completed her MBChB in Edinburgh and joins us from working as a FY2 doctor at Ninewells Hospital, said: “I applied for the role after hearing fantastic reviews from previous St Andrews demonstrators over the years. It is a fantastic opportunity to develop teaching skills that will be with us for the rest of our careers.”
Nourah AlKandari, a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and foundation doctor at NHS Tayside stated: “I applied for the role of Medical Demonstrator at the University of St Andrews as I knew it would provide me with a multitude of invaluable skills and experiences. The role is unique and exciting in that it allows you to teach a variety of different topics using various teaching methods, whilst also continuing to learn and develop yourself. St. Andrews is a town deep in unrivalled history, culture and character, and I am looking forward to exploring it further.”
Finally, Rehan Mackenzie, another former graduate of St Andrews who has been working at NHS Tayside reflected: “The teaching at St Andrews was so good that I wanted to return and be part of it.”