An idea which had developed in a small and entrepreneurship. After inspiring lecture theatre of Imperial College London lectures from past attendees, teams were between four strangers had progressed to randomly allocated and presented with become a Top 5 Innovation Finalist out of the task of developing innovative health 32 prestigious European universities at ideas for the concept of ‘Bringing Care the EIT Health Innovation Winner’s event Home’. Each team underwent design in Paris. thinking training, pitch coaching and various rapid ideation tasks in order to Our journey began in November as 101 develop innovative and sustainable students arrived at the South Kensington solutions to shift healthcare from the campus for a day of training in innovation hospital to home.
As my team progressed through the allowing me to continue these principles activities and training, I soon came to realize and objectives with the development of the importance and versatility of being ‘Rhea, The Detector Pad’. allocated to a team with a multitude of backgrounds including public health, Our product, an environmentally friendly engineering, medicine, and business. After 9 menstrual pad designed to detect STIs, was hours of discussion, development and developed in order to reduce the barriers pitching our idea to a prestigious panel of which often prevent women from seeking judges, “Rhea, the Detector Pad” was medical attention to diagnose sexually selected as the Gold Place Winner and transmitted infections. With £136 billion cut presented with the opportunity to from sexual health services in the UK and represent Imperial College London at the national STI rates steadily increasing, our Paris Winner’s Event! product aims to bring these crucial services home to women in the UK and around the The EIT Health Innovation events allowed world. I am very much looking forward to me to utilize the knowledge I have acquired continuing research and development of during my Master of Public Health course at ‘Rhea’ with my team in order to combat Imperial, collaborate with colleagues from a these barriers of sexual health services on a multitude of professional backgrounds, and global scale. develop new skills sets that will benefit my future career. As the Founder and Executive Leah Ellis is currently an MPH student at Director of Oyana International, Inc., a non- Imperial College. ‘Innovation Days’ is an EIT profit working to eliminate gender Health activity involving partners from 21 disparities caused by menstrual taboos in European countries, which is led by Imperial Tanzania, I am grateful for EIT Health, College. For more information, contact Dr Imperial, and my new teammates for Filippos Filippidis or Emily Saunders, or visit the EIT webpage . Winning team receiving their prizes
EDUCATION We are proud to launch the Medical Education Innovation and Research Centre (MEdIC). MEdIC is a translational centre, connecting cutting edge medical education innovations and research with patients and communities in need. Our vision is to drive medical education forwards realising its full potential, by bringing together the needs of patients and local community, workforce and health system and the training needs of our future doctors into one creative academic space with societal impact at its core. MINENOdVICAT-IOMNEADNIDCRA CENTRE
Led by Dr Sonia Kumar, Director of Undergraduate Primary Care Education, MEdIC has a team of clinicians and educational researchers working together to explore global advances in medical education with the unified goal of sustainable societal impact. Research and Innovation is conducted across four themes: Diversity and inclusion, Coaching, Longitudinal learning and Professional identity formation. Numerous projects are currently being conducted with collaborations with UK and international institutions, including UCL, Harvard, Birkbeck and THEnet. We are committed to work closely with our local community, colleagues from Imperial, other institutions and primary care to continue to orient our work towards the evolving priorities for our patients and health system. Please do get in touch to find out more about our work. WEBSITE TWITTER: @Imperial_MEdIC RAELSEEADRCUHCCAETNITORNE
LAUNCH OF NEW ONLINE COURSE ON CENTRED CONVERSATIONSWe are very excited to be launching a new freely available online course (MOOC) on Coaching Skills for Learner-Centred Conversations, developed and led by the Medical Education Innovation and Research Centre (MEdIC) coaching theme lead, Dr Arti Maini, in conjunction with EdX and Imperial’s Digital Learning Hub. This interactive, self-paced course is about creating a different type of relationship in teaching and learning settings, resulting in a genuinely learner-centred form of dialogue. Participants will come away with a better understanding of what coaching is, learn coaching frameworks and coaching skills that can be put into practice immediately, and consider how to use coaching approaches in their own roles as an educator or as a learner. The course contains four main modules on the principles of coaching, conditions needed for effective learner-centred conversations, coaching skills and coaching approaches for feedback, and there is also a section exploring how Imperial has been fostering a coaching culture. Participants will engage in a range of learning activities, from interactive videos and quizzes to discussion forums connecting with peers from around the world. You can get a flavour of what the course will SHORT VIDEO cover from these links: - ACCESS THE COURSE
N COACHING SKILLS FOR LEARNER CENTRED CONVERSATIONS Image: @macrovector - Freepik.com
DELIVERING COST EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE THROUGH REVERSE INNOVATION Matthew Harris (Clinical Senior Lecturer in Public Health) and co- authors Mark Skopec (Research Assistant, DPCPH) and Hamdi Issa (PhD Student, IGHI) have published an Analysis article on ‘Reverse Innovation in Healthcare’ in the British Medical Journal. The article summarises the state of the debate of Reverse Innovation and highlights nearly a dozen healthcare innovations from low-income countries with potential applicability in the NHS and other high-income country health systems. Some of the key messages from the article are: • Low resource countries are increasingly recognised as sources of frugal healthcare innovations—whether technologies, process, or models— that do more, for less, for many • These innovations offer the potential for cost saving if adopted in high income settings, such as the NHS—this process is often referred to as reverse innovation • Each innovation comes with its own specific barriers to adoption, such as regulatory hurdles or community standards • General challenges include identifying the potential innovations, resourcing and managing their adoption, and the perception that innovations from low resource countries are not adequate or appropriate for high income settings • The resource constraints facing high income country health systems, such as the NHS, mean that adopting frugal innovations from low resource countries is timely and needed The article was presented at a meeting at the Department for International Development on the 24 Sept and at a round table debate hosted by the Tropical Health Education Trust and Health Education England last Nov. Co- author Mark Skopec also presented the article at the ‘Imperial Lates’ public engagement event.
READ THE ARTICLE AND LISTEN TO THE ACCOMPANYING PODCAST Reverse Arrow Image © Freepik.com
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By Tom Durley A meridian line is an imaginary circle that passes through the earth’s surface to connect the poles. The prime meridian line runs within two miles of Madingley, Cambridge. In January, the annual Society for Academic Primary Care South East (SAPC SE) meeting was held in Cambridge at the beautiful Madingley Hall. Once again members of the Primary Care Undergraduate Teaching team attended. This year’s theme was ‘Academic Primary Care: Optimising Impact’. Our team shared the following impactful projects from the department: - F-zero – a longitudinal integrated clerkship for final year medical students -Neha Ahuja (OOPE 2018-2019) and Nicky Hawkins (OOPE 2019-2020) - A primary school- based service-learning programme - Rachel Pilling (GPST2 Feb-Aug 2019) - How mindfulness training can build community teachers’ skills – Tom Durley The conference was a succinct way to He called for more collaborative research broaden one’s thinking on topical medical implementation that takes account of what education issues. One of the keynotes was an happens in real life rather than under study entertaining and sobering talk by Prof Robbie conditions. As general practice educators, I Foy, a world leader in implementation think this pragmatic view of impact is what we research, and a GP. 85% of health research is try to move our students towards. wasted (1), for multiple reasons including The hosting Cambridge team expertly being not contextual enough. For example, organised it to be an egalitarian, enabling when validated tools for depression screening event. Attending SAPC SE was like standing on are used in real life, ethnographic studies a meridian, connecting educational research showed they can become a tick-box exercise to our teaching practice, and catching up with and reduce the quality of the consultation for colleagues while being inspired by new all. connections. 1. Chalmers I, Glasziou P. Avoidable waste in the production and reporting of research evidence. Lancet. 2009 Jul 4;374(9683):86-9.
HOME & AWAY Geneva means a lot of different things to different people. Undoubtedly it is the hub for all the major humanitarian organisations and the WHO. For us at the WHO Collaborating Centre however, it can bring up various topics due to the nature of our work which is closely linked to the WHO headquarters, but often it means ‘The Educational trip’ that we have been organising every year for the past 10 years now. It feels like we should be celebrating with some given the opportunity to discuss current topics, candles on a cake and we feel happy to have ask questions, hear from the experts and learn been able to enrich the university education of about collaboration and internship Master Students on Global Health and Public opportunities. The trip allows them to explore Health streams, with this field visit to the potential for their future careers as well as experience, to major players in the area of relate the knowledge they have gained during Public and Global Health. studies to the real-life scenarios. The trip takes place every year in June and This year, due to the current health situation allows the students to meet experts from across the globe, we are reviewing the situation organisations such as: Médecins Sans Frontièrs, and remain hopeful the trip can still take place Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, UNHCR, Red Cross sometime before October. and of course WHO Headquarters. Students are
ICL/WHO Acute Event Management Course With a rise in global health events and challenges public health professionals need operational knowledge and the tools to respond to acute events. Yet, a knowledge gap exists to support experts in the adaption of hazard response strategies including investigation, risk assessment, interventions and field operations. With that in mind, Imperial College’s Digital WHO Geneva wants to target public health Learning Hub (DLH), the School of Public professionals that the WHO currently deploys Health and the WHO Collaborating Centre for in acute settings. An acute health emergency Public Health Training and Education are or event is one that represents an immediate teaming up with WHO Geneva’s Health threat to human health and requires prompt Emergency Programme Learning and Capacity action to protect the public. Health security Development Unit to design a knowledge- includes a wide range of complex issues. The based Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). ICL/WHO MOOC will focus on six acute events: • infectious disease outbreaks • chemical incidents • food contamination • natural disasters • radio-nuclear event • displaced populations The wider aim of the MOOC is to improve and strengthen public health competencies and primary care workforce worldwide. From international to individual households, all endanger the collective health of populations. Exercises and testing can improve readiness and strengthen national capacities to prepare for, detect and respond to public health emergencies. Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has announced the creation of a new learning platform in global health. The WHO Academy Lyon hub (with ‘spokes ’ in all six respective WHO Regions) will feature high-quality, high-tech, multi-lingual learning environments, both online and face-to-face. A simulation centre for health emergencies will be an aspect of the hub. The Academy will provide adult learning opportunities for leaders, educators, researchers, health workers and WHO staff. Design meeting for the Acute Events Management MOOC
PCPH ‘CAKE BREAK’ RAISES MONEY FOR MS SOCIETY By Pirkko Carmack As someone living with Multiple Sclerosis, I wanted to do something to raise some money for the MS Society and so I asked my colleague, Sukhi Ubhi (Photo: left), to help me organise a department ‘Cake Break’. Sukhi was more than happy to help and I really appreciate her involvement. There is so much hope now for those with Ocrelizumab works best the sooner you MS because a new drug called start treatment from being diagnosed Ocrelizumab on infusion was approved by with Primary Progressive MS. It sticks to NICE for Primary Progressive MS. It has your B cells and helps kill them, and that been available on the NHS since May 2019 way they can no longer attack and in England and can make a very big damage the myelin around your nerves. difference. Unfortunately, the medication is very expensive and so the criteria to qualify for treatment is strict. THE BENEFITS: • The slowing down of progression by 25% could delay the need for a wheelchair by seven years • Improvement in walking and upper arm movements as well as hands and fingers. • Whether we have MS or not, our brains shrink a little each year as we get older. But in MS there is faster and more of this shrinkage. Ocrelizumab slowed this down compared to the placebo. • Ocrelizumab made a certain type of lesion called T2 lesions smaller by 3%. • There is not much research into the long-term effects of use, but a new study is following people for longer and its results will be ready in 2021. In addition, one’s own efforts are crucial, Thank you very much to every Master and I try to keep myself active and Baker for such an excellent selection of exercising regularly. It’s important to try cakes and every single person who bought to maintain a good aerobic condition by some. We raised a whopping £238.00! All continuing to strengthen muscles and the funds were donated to the MS improve flexibility. I have recently been Society. able to make my weaker leg significantly stronger by pushing hard in the gym with The MS Society Ambassadors, Hairy Bikers some new focused exercises for 3 months (David Myers and Si King) and Michelin- and I consider this as a mega inspirational Starred chef Tom Kerridge, were very personal achievement! happy with our efforts. Who knows…Perhaps one day, some of our bakers will be invited on to the next Great British Bake Off!
Newspaper Collage Texture by flordenu
Five minutes with… Beth Golding Community Collaboration Officer What does your role involve and what do you enjoy about it? I’ve been in post for nearly two months (arriving shortly before Andy McKeown left - but he assures me that the two things were not connected). The moment I asked Sonia and the team how they would summarise the culture in three words at my interview, and they said 'work, family and laughter', my fate was sealed. My role involves connecting the primary care curriculum with our local communities by organising student placements in community settings, expanding on the department's school outreach, and working with course leads from years 1 through to 6 to identify and implement new opportunities for community collaboration. My time is divided between office work and attending meetings and forums with community and voluntary sector groups and wider stakeholders to scope out placement and collaborative opportunities. I am very fortunate to have found a role which incorporates all the things I enjoy the most: exploring with communities what matters to them, working with passionate and values-driven people to effect positive change, and providing educational experiences to our future doctors which help ensure they become socially accountable agents of change. I am also keen to help build a culture of co-design, co-production and collaboration with communities, so that our work is not only driven by the needs of but also created in partnership with local people, the voluntary sector and marginalised groups. What were you doing prior to this? After my MA I decided to move to Switzerland for a year to teach students with autism and learning disabilities. One of the requirements for the job was that I had to teach rollerblading, ice skating and origami as well as academic subjects. I'm about the least coordinated person on the planet. It was... interesting. Prior to joining Imperial, I worked in healthcare commissioning (communications and engagement) and in- patient experience at provider trusts. My academic background is in arts and humanities, and I'm training as a coach with the ILM. I would be happy to offer some free coaching sessions to a few colleagues if of interest. How has the current Covid-19 crisis changed the way you work and what challenges does that bring? The main organisational challenge of COVID-19 for me has been shifting our community collaboration work to a digital format, whilst trying to maintain inclusive representation. One of the most interesting things to observe over the COVID-19 crisis has been just how quickly it is possible to bring about significant change in systems - but at the same time, we are witnessing the challenges which accompany this around communicating change and ensuring that no one is left behind through rushed planning and digital exclusion.
Tell us about your interests and who you are outside of work? My favourite ways to relax are theatre, cinema, socialising, reading, walking in green spaces, and watching stand-up comedy or box sets. I'm also attempting to write a book, but I wouldn't describe that as relaxing; someone on Twitter recently described their writing routine as follows: \"I bribe myself with a latte and pastry, write for 1 hour a week while crying and then I lie down for three days”. Reading this made me feel much better! How are you adapting to working from home and what tips can you offer to maintain wellbeing? Working from home really blurs the boundaries between home life and work life. For me, these boundaries have always been...permeable. However, it's very important to carve out some time for self-care at this difficult time and reflect on what makes us feel good. This will be different for everyone, but now I stop to think about it, I find I've been unconsciously following the five ways to well-being. • CONNECT: In this digital age, physical distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation. It's still possible to connect with friends and family - you can cook a meal together remotely, catch up on Skype, or: National Theatre Thursdays, online art exhibitions, Ronnie Scott's live Facebook streams, Netflix Party, House Party (word of warning: just make sure you lock the virtual room...) My team at work is organising 'Well-being Wednesday' slots to share tips, which has been fantastic. • BE ACTIVE: Now that the gym is out, I've replaced the rug with a yoga mat. My family and I do the easy Leslie Sansone walking routine together weekly. • KEEP LEARNING: For me, this is a great chance to start writing again, read more, and learn more about coaching. Imperial offers access to a wide range of learning tools online - equally, you may want to take up a new hobby. • GIVE: Neighbourliness and charitable acts of kindness make me feel less helpless right now. No restaurants/theatres mean I can afford to set up a monthly payment to food banks, which desperately need donations right now - and I'm volunteering to deliver groceries etc. to at risk/vulnerable people via the Local Authority and COVID-19 mutual aid groups. It's also good to reach out to your colleagues right now and check they're OK. • TAKE NOTICE: This is a great time to practise using tools like mindfulness, being grateful for what we have, body relaxation exercises, etc. For those unused to these techniques, a fantastic free app called Wysa provides a useful learning structure (and, quite frankly, an adorable penguin logo) - and there are loads of online mindfulness sessions you can sign up to. What 3 tunes and luxury item would you choose to be marooned on a desert island with? This is so difficult... 'All I Want' or 'If' by Joni Mitchell, Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43, 'Baker Street' by Gerry Rafferty. Or 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac... So tough to choose! My luxury item – Nars Starwoman lipstick!
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SEMINAR CITY The TARGET antibiotic Toolkit Dr Donna Lecky Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to be a rising threat to the provision of modern medicine. National and international action plans on AMR stress the importance of improving professional education and public engagement to improve antimicrobial prescribing practice. In this lecture, Dr Lecky will discuss the TARGET Antibiotics Toolkit for primary care in England, which aims to help prescribers and commissioning organizations to increase responsible antimicrobial prescribing in the primary care setting. In particular, she will focus on the development of the TARGET toolkit and how the resources can and are being used to influence prescribing habits in both prescriber and patient. Dr Donna Lecky is a Senior Programme Manager for Public Health England, managing the TARGET antibiotics workstream. Her primary interest lies in antimicrobial stewardship and her research uses behavioural theories to identify barriers and facilitators to appropriate antibiotic use. She has extensive experience in intervention development and is currently collaborating with WHO to adapt the TARGET toolkit for Central Asian countries. WATCH THIS PRESENTATION There are many more fascinating seminars ready for you to view on the PCPH WEBSITE (Check out the ‘Past Seminar Recordings’ section)
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