Postgraduate Academy of Health

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Postgraduate Academy of Health

UEL Postgraduate Academy: shaping the future of undergraduate healthcare education in East London

The arrival of UEL’s new medical school in 2028 marks an exciting opportunity to redefine excellence in undergraduate healthcare education. To prepare, the Postgraduate Academy (PGA) provides a dedicated forum for educators to develop skills, share expertise, and build collaborative networks across the Health Campus.

The 2026 programme features a series of online and in-person sessions at our Stratford campus, designed to showcase how faculty work together and support the interprofessional aims of “learning with, from, and about” other professions. These practical, theory-informed sessions are tailored to meet the needs of educators across all disciplines and help ensure teaching methods are innovative, effective, and aligned with the evolving healthcare landscape.
More than a training programme, the PGA is a professional community. It brings educators together to connect with colleagues, refine their teaching practice, and play an integral role in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals at UEL.

Nursing students

2026 education series

Practical, theory-informed sessions for all healthcare educators, regardless of discipline.

Available to book

2026 webinars and workshops

Supporting Learners in Difficulty

About the event:

Students in health programmes face high academic pressure, emotional strain, and wellbeing challenges. Intensive study, clinical placements, professional identity development, and exposure to patient suffering increase the risk of burnout, anxiety, and disengagement. Universities play a key role in recognising and supporting students in difficulty.

Join the UEL Postgraduate Academy of Health session to explore signs of distress and the academic, clinical, and personal factors behind them. Dr Theresa Martin will share evidence-informed approaches to early identification, supportive conversations, and referral pathways, helping staff build confidence and practical skills to support student wellbeing and create safe, sustainable learning environments.

Date: Thursday 23 April 2026

Location: Online

Time: 1:00pm-1:45pm

Speaker: Dr Theresa Martin (and academic adviser rep)

Book your session here

Widening Participation Without Widening Gaps

Description:

Over seven years leading a Medicine with Foundation Year programme at Peninsula, Dr Singer has gained insight into the experiences of students from widening participation backgrounds. This webinar explores what it means to open access to medicine, and what follows for students who may be first in their families to enter higher education or from underrepresented communities.

Alongside their talent and determination, many face less visible challenges, including belonging, financial pressure, and navigating unfamiliar professional cultures. By centring student voices, the session highlights what works, what needs to change, and how universities can move beyond access to ensure students are supported to succeed.

Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026

Location: Online

Time: 1:00pm-1:45pm

Speaker: Dr Lauren Singer

Book your session here

Forget Pretend: Creating Authentic Simulation Experiences

About the event:  

Creating Authentic Simulation Experiences offers a hands-on introduction to what’s possible in our state-of-the-art simulation building. This interactive workshop gives a flavour of how to write an effective simulation, a rapid overview of feedback and debriefing models, and an introduction to the wide range of simulation resources available. Participants will explore high- and low-fidelity mannequins, part-task trainers, Anatomage tables and VR headsets, and discuss how these tools can be used to create meaningful, authentic learning experiences. The session is practical, informal and focused on ideas, inspiration and possibilities rather than theory.

Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026

Location: Hospital and Primary Care Training Hub building, Stratford Campus, E15 4LZ

Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm

Speaker: Dr Diluxshy Elangaratnam

Book your session here

Coming Soon

2026 webinars and workshops

Please keep an eye out for upcoming booking links. Dates will be published on this page once the events are confirmed.

Assessment in Focus: Principles and Examiner Best Practice

  • Explore the theory underpinning modern assessment, including formative vs. summative approaches and Miller’s Pyramid
  • Understand principles of setting fair and reliable exams, including standard setting and Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) design
  • Practical strategies for examiner calibration and mitigating bias through EDI-focused practices

No more death by PowerPoint: teaching for the digital age

  • Explore digital tools from virtual patients to AI-assisted feedback, and discuss professional, ethical, and accessibility considerations
  • Move beyond slide decks with case-based discussions, microteaching, and interactive learning
  • Learn simple design changes that transform passive listening into active engagement

Building your educator identity

  • Personal reflection and self-evaluation to support ongoing growth as an educator
  • Explore opportunities for professional development: conferences, journals, and teaching networks
  • Understand the role of accreditations and recognition, such as Advance HE Fellowship, in enhancing credibility and career progression
Book a lunchtime webinar place

Replay the Postgraduate Academy of Health webinar series

  • Each generation learns differently, influenced by evolving social, cultural, and technological contexts. Do we, as educators, adapt our teaching methods to the needs of our students rather than relying solely on how we were taught?
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  • Experienced primary and secondary care clinicians give their researched views on this important topic including public perceptions on assisted dying and the pros and cons of changing the legislation.
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  • NHS England predict by 2035, up to half of all medical treatments or healthcare decisions will use genomics to improve care. Genomics in primary care holds transformative potential for precision medicine, from early cancer detection to optimised prescribing.
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  • Learn how to support your international medical graduates’ educational and training journeys and their integration into the NHS.
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  • Finding new ways to train our doctors is part of the challenge of addressing the staffing crisis in the NHS. Professor Joanne Harris, Founding Dean of Medicine worked with NHS England to develop a protype 4-year undergraduate medical curriculum.
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  • How can we support and enhance learners competencies when concerns are raised?
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  • Harnessing AI for Learning, Teaching, and Assessment in Healthcare Education
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  • Are we over diagnosing neurodiversity? (PGAH webinar)
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  • During this webinar, we will explore the depths of a portfolio career and why portfolio careers are particularly important now. We will also use the 6-step framework from the book 'Portfolio Careers for GPs' to help you start to create or further develop your own portfolio career.
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  • Feedback: Turning Pandora’s Box into a Treasure Trove
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  • Who decides what's professional?
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  • Reflection: can it be taught or assessed?
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Rooted in UEL’s core values, our Academy stands apart through its unique commitment to:

We aim to prioritise the needs of practitioners and organisations in East London and the South-East, addressing critical workforce challenges to boost recruitment and retention. Yet, our solutions are designed to resonate nationally and internationally, meeting shared healthcare demands.

Our programmes evolve alongside the changing needs of health professionals and teams, ensuring continuous relevance through regular review and innovation.

Recognising the power of teamwork in healthcare, we aim to foster multi-professional learning, equipping practitioners to thrive in collaborative environments.

Our mission is to actively involve service users, carers, and the public in shaping solutions, thereby ensuring education is grounded in real-world needs.

From fellowships that enhance individual career growth to learning sets for doctors in non-traditional pathways, we offer diverse approaches. Our Academy supports team innovation labs, communities of practice, and classroom-based learning, catering to a spectrum of professional development needs.

Mirroring UEL’s proposed medicine course, we aim to provide tailored support for practitioners who have faced educational or social barriers, ensuring equitable opportunities for advancement.

By combining these strengths, the UEL Postgraduate Academy of Health drives excellence in healthcare education—locally rooted, globally impactful.