Seven scholars have set off on their journey to become Masters in Evidence-Based Healthcare thanks to a unique collaboration between the Oxford AHSN, Health Education Thames Valley (HETV) and the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at the University of Oxford.
The seven are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and include three nurses, a doctor, a physiotherapist, a pharmacist and a radiographer. All live and work in the Oxford AHSN region. They are committed to becoming champions for using research to improve clinical practice in their workplaces.
The fellows have embarked on a three-year part-time study programme alongside their day job, funded by HETV. The process is already under way to identify a second intake to start in autumn 2015.
Sharon Mickan, Director of the Masters programme, said: “We’ll be supporting you every step of the way.”
Here’s a brief introduction to the pioneering seven and their focus areas for harnessing innovation to improve patient care (in the left-right order they are pictured above):
- Kate Masters, Reading-based clinical trials pharmacist – Specialist interest: unified approach to adopting new drugs in hospital
- Rob Crookston, Oxford-based transplant advanced nurse practitioner – Specialist interest: islet cell transplant for type 1 diabetes
- Kay McCallum, Oxford-based advanced nurse practitioner acute oncology – Specialist interest: needs of carers of acute oncology patients
- Steven Faulkner, Bedford-based specialist diagnostic radiographer – Specialist interest: unwarranted variation in MRI of prostate gland
- Deborah Grove, advanced nurse practitioner at Oxford Kidney Unit – Specialist interest: care planning for patients with chronic renal disease starting unplanned dialysis
- Joe Korge, Oxford-based physiotherapist – Specialist interest: impact of physical activity on mental health
- Francis Githae Muriithi, Oxford-based obstetrician/gynaecologist – Specialist interest: follow-up after surgery