Dr Sharon Buckley MSc PhD PGCE DipSciComm SFHEA

Dr Sharon Buckley

Institute of Clinical Sciences
Senior Lecturer in Medical Education

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 2675
Email
s.g.buckley@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
Institute of Clinical Sciences
College of Medical and Dental Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Sharon is an experienced educator and National Teaching Fellow, whose interests centre on the learning of professional skills such as teamwork and communication; and on the development of evidence-informed educational policy and practice.

Sharon is a Board Member for the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) and an active member of Universitas 21 Health Sciences Group. In 2012, Sharon established the College of Medical and Dental Sciences IPE Steering Group, which works to expand interprofessional learning opportunities for Birmingham health professions students. 

In 2016, Sharon established the Healthcare Scientist Training Research and Evaluation Group, in collaboration with the National School of Healthcare Sciences. She is a member of the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) collaboration review editorial committee and from January 2019 will be an Associate Editor for ‘The Clinical Teacher’.

The University recently invited Sharon to become a Fellow of its Higher Education Futures Institute, which develops innovative and effective university teaching and learning. Committed to assisting others to develop their teaching skills and obtain recognition for their teaching excellence, Sharon contributes extensively to University faculty development programmes and mentors institutional nominees for teaching excellence awards.   

Awards for teaching excellence include her National Teaching Fellowship (2010), a University of Birmingham Teaching Fellowship (2008) and the Head of School’s Award for Teaching and Learning Excellence (2007).

Qualifications

  • 2016 Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy
  • 2002 MSc in Information Technology, Aston University
  • 2000 PG Diploma in Science Communication (Distinction), University of London
  • 1983 PG Certificate in Education (Merit), Aberdeen College of Education, Scotland
  • 1983 PhD ‘Uptake of aminoglycoside antibiotics by Staphylococcus aureus’, Council for National Academic Awards
  • 1978 BSc (Iii) Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK 

Biography

Since joining the University in 2003, Sharon has established a strong record in expanding Interprofessional Education (IPE) opportunities for pre-registration health professional students. In 2015, Sharon led the Health Care Team Challenge (West Midlands), the first such to be held in England; in 2012, she established the College of Medical and Dental Sciences IPE steering group, which works to embed IPE into health professions programme curricula; and since 2005, Sharon has led four major regional IPE projects, focussing particularly on the development of authentic IP simulations for pre-registration students. Sharon is a member of the Board of the Centre for the Advancement of IPE (CAIPE), the leading organisation for the promotion of IPE nationally; and an active member of the Universitas 21 Health Sciences Group, for whom she is leading the establishment of an IPE Special Interest Group.

Sharon has a strong interest in the evaluation of educational interventions and the synthesis of evidence to inform policy and practice in education. She leads the Healthcare Scientist Training Research and Evaluation Group, which works with the National School of Healthcare Sciences to explore issues of professional identity, leadership, career progression and workforce integration for trainee clinical scientists; and is working with the Health Education England to establish evaluation of their Genomics Education Programme. She is a member of the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) collaboration review editorial committee and has published aspects of her work, including a BEME review of the integration of tools for structured team communication into health professions curricula. From January 2019, she will be an associate editor for the journal ‘The Clinical Teacher’.

Committed to assisting others to develop and obtain recognition for their teaching skills, Sharon has contributed extensively to University and Trust faculty development programmes and acts as mentor for institutional nominees for Teaching Excellence Awards. This year, Sharon was invited to become a Fellow of the University of Birmingham Higher Education Futures Institute, which works to develop innovative and effective university teaching and learning. 

In 2010, the Higher Education Academy awarded Sharon a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of her work. Earlier awards include a University of Birmingham Teaching Fellowship (2008) and the Head of School’s Award for Teaching and Learning Excellence (2007, £1K).

Trained as a microbiologist, Sharon has also worked extensively in post-16 education, including roles as Head of Science and Head of Sixth Form Centre.

Teaching

  • MBChB, written professional communication, professional and academic skills, clinical communication
  • Biomedical Science, Science communication optional module, final year project supervision
  • PG Certificate in Higher Education, Action Learning Set facilitator and assessor
  • MPharm, Final year project supervision
  • Various programmes, Introductions to Healthcare, IPE and patient safety 

Postgraduate supervision

  • PhD - Professional identity of healthcare scientists
  • MRes - Attitudes to IPE in trainee clinical scientists, workplace learning on the Scientist Training Programme
  • MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) - the ACP role in primary care

Research

Sharon works to build the evidence base for good educational practice through evaluation of educational interventions and synthesis of the evidence-base for particular educational approaches.

Sharon leads the Healthcare Scientist Training Research and Evaluation Group, which works with the National School of Healthcare Science to ensure that newly qualified clinical scientists have the scientific knowledge and expertise needed to contribute effectively to patient care.  Sharon is also working with the scientists from the National Genomics Education Programme to establish a national evaluation of this rapidly developing educational field.

Formerly, Sharon was principal investigator for Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Collaboration systematic reviews into the integration of tools for structured communication into pre-registration health professions programmes (2016) and the educational effects of portfolios (2009). 

Research groups and Centres

Other activities

Current

  • Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE), Board Member
  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow
  • Universitas 21 (U21) Health Sciences Group, Lead for U21 IPE Special Interest Group
  • Association of National Teaching Fellows, Member
  • The Clinical Teacher, Associate Editor (from January 2019)
  • Best Evidence Medical Education Collaboration, Member of review editorial committee

 Former

  • 2009-2011 Elected governor, Birmingham Women’s hospital
  • 1996-1997 Part-time registered inspector, Further Education Funding Council

Previous employment

  • 2003-2012 Education Development Specialist, University of Birmingham
  • 1989-2001  Head of Sixth Form Centre, Head of A level Centre, Head of Science, Bournville College, Birmingham, UK
  • 1985-1988 Head of Biology, Head of Chemistry (acting), Lecturer, North Birmingham College, Birmingham, UK
  • 1983-1985 Teacher of Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Dyce Academy, Aberdeen, UK
  • 1978-1981 Research and teaching assistant, Liverpool Polytechnic, Liverpool, UK

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Buckley, S., Draper P., and Fell P.(2017) ‘An introduction to Enquiry in Health Professions Education’ In Cleaver E, Lintern M and McLinden M (eds) Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Disciplinary Approaches to Educational Enquiry. 2nd Edition. London: SAGE Publications Inc. pp.195-208
  • Buckley, S. and Fell, P. (2014) “An introduction to Enquiry in Health Professions Education” In Cleaver E, Lintern M and McLinden M (eds) Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Disciplinary Approaches to Educational Enquiry. London: SAGE Publications Inc. pp.195-208
  • Buckley, S. (2011) “Case Study 6: reviewing evidence on the effects of educational interventions” In Khan K, Kunz R, Kleinen J, Antes G.  Systematic reviews to support evidence-based medicine (2nd Edition). Florida, USA: CRC Press. Pp.139-148

Peer reviewed papers

  • Buckley S, Ambrose L,  Anderson E, Coleman JJ, Hensman M, Hirsch C, Hodson, J, Morley D, Pittaway S, Stewart J.  2016. Tools for structured team communication in pre-registration health professions education: a Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) review. BEME Guide No. 41. Medical Teacher 38:10, 966-980, DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2016.1215412
  • Green C, Taylor C, Buckley S, Hean S 2016.Beyond synthesis: augmenting systematic review procedures with practical principles to optimise impact and uptake in educational policy and practice. Perspectives in Medical Education Special Issue (Part 1) 39(3) 329-344
  • Buckley, S., Coleman, J.J., Davison, I., Morley, D., and Torgerson, C. (2013). An e-learning package to support interprofessional education (IPE): a pilot and feasibility and efficacy randomised controlled trial in a medical education setting. Effective Education, 4(2): 111-122
  • Buckley, S., Hensman, M., Thomas, S., Dudley, R., Nevin, G., and Coleman, J.J. (2012) Developing interprofessional simulation in the undergraduate setting: experience with five different professional groups. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 26: 362-369 
  • Buckley, S., Coleman. J.J., Khan, K.S. (2010) Best evidence on the educational effects of undergraduate portfolios: a guide for clinical teachers. The Clinical Teacher, 7: 187-191 
  • Buckley, S., Coleman, J.J, Davison, I., Khan, K.S., Zamora, J., Malick, S., Morley, D., Pollard, D., Ashcroft, T., Popovic, C., Sayers, J. (2009) The educational effects of portfolios on undergraduate student learning: BEME Guide no 11. Medical Teacher 31: 282-298.
  • Buckley, S. and Zamora, J. (2007) Effects of participation in a cross year peer tutoring programme in clinical examination skills on volunteer tutors’ skills and attitudes towards teachers and teaching. BioMed Central Medical Education, 7: 20.

 Invited book reviews

  • Buckley, S. (2009) “A Handbook of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 3rd Edition” by Fry and Ketteridge. British Journal of Educational Technology 40: 773-774
  • Buckley, S. (2007) “E-learning groups and communities” by David McConnell British Journal of Educational Technology 38 (5) 947-948
  • Buckley, S. (2006) ‘Making Learning Happen’ by Phil Race British Journal of Educational Technology 37(3) 495

Other articles

  • Universitas 21 Health Sciences Group 2017. A guide for the assessment of clinical competence through simulation (Craig Vincent Lambert and Fiona Bogassian (Eds).One of nine international contributors. Available at: http://u21health.org/clinical-simulation/
  • Skelton, J. and Buckley, S. (2008) What is the value of good medical education research? A reply to Bligh and Brice. Medical Education, 42: 1044-1045.
  • Buckley, S., Morley, D., Jones, S., Couperthwaite, J., Ojha, H., Appleton, P., Boucheny, T. (2006). “A patient pathway model for clinical learning in treatment centres” Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine Magazine Summer issue pp. 6-7

Workshops

  • Buckley S, Gerdtz M, Mandrusiak A. 2018.Forum on building sustainability in Interprofessional Education. Universitas 21 Health Sciences Group Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Sept.
  • Powell E, Norton T, Vickneswaran K, Ayub M, Arain M, Hirsch C, Buckley S.  2018 Building Student Leadership of Interprofessional Education (IPE): a practical guide to establishing a student IPE Society Abstract ID: 1171 All Together Better Health IX, Auckland, Sept.

Oral presentations

  • Powell E, Norton T, Vickneswaran K, Ayub M, Arain M, Hirsch C, Buckley S.  2018 Building an Interprofessional Society using a Team-building Weekend Away and Student-led Healthcare Team Challenge: experience and lessons learned. Abstract ID: 1173 All Together Better Health IX, Auckland, Sept All Together Better Health IX, Auckland, Sept.
  • Nath C, Hirsch C, Ward, J, Whetstone, J, Valler T, Ennis J, Ward D, Buckley S. 2018 IP simulations can significantly improve role awareness, particularly in the context of workforce shift.Abstract ID: 1166 All Together Better Health IX, Auckland, Sept
  • Buckley S, Boyson C, Ennis J, Valler-Jones T, Hirsch C, Ramsay J, Walmsley D, Rose J, Inman C, Price D, Coleman J 2017. Clinical skills requirements across 10 pre-registration programmes: commonalities and potential for interprofessional education. In the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference, Helsinki, Sept.
  • Buckley S, Thomas S, Ngeumshe M-C, Dixon G, Hirsch C, Nevin G, Small L, Torney L. 2016 Health Care Team Challenge (West Midlands) 2015: experience and lessons learned. All Together Better Health 8, Oxford, Sept.
  • Buckley S, Ambrose, L., Anderson, E., Coleman, J.J., Hensman, M., Hirsch, C., Hodson, J., Morley, D., Pittaway, S., Stewart, J. (2014). “The Teaching of Structured Communication Tools in Pre-Registration Health Professions Education:  A BEME systematic review” In the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference, Glasgow, UK 05-09 September 2015.
  • Buckley S, Turner A, Morley D. 2015 Using Canvas to support group work and peer assessment in an innovative component on written professional communication for final year medical students. The Birmingham Conference
  • Buckley, S., Ambrose, L., Anderson, E., Coleman, J.J., Hensman, M., Hirsch, C., Hodson, J., Morley, D., Pittaway, S., Stewart, J. (2014). “How does the teaching of a structured tool for communication within and between teams contribute to student learning?” In the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference, Milan, Italy 30 August - 03 September 2014.
  • Thomas, S., Coleman, J.J., Hensman, M., Hirsch, C., Nevin, G., Stewart, J., Buckley, S. (2013). “Training for clinical educators involved in interprofessional (IP) simulation: issues to consider. 5th International Clinical Skills Conference, Prato, Italy, 19-22 May 2013
  • Hirsch C, Coleman JJ, Thomas S, Valler-Jones T, Buckley S. (2012) A medicines safety team observation tool for use in undergraduate interprofessional simulations: issues of development and use”. All Together Better Health VI, Kobe, Japan 05-08 October (round table discussion).
  • Cleaver, E., Buckley, S. (2010). “The impact of a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching on Academic Identities in a research-led University”. In the 2nd Academic Identities Conference, Strathclyde, June.
  • Hensman, M., Buckley, S., Thomas, S., Holland, A., Dudley, R., Coleman, J.J., Aldridge, M., Valler-Jones, T., Morley, D., Reay, C. (2010) “Inter-professional learning in simulated practice settings”. All Together Better Health V, Sydney, April.

Conference poster presentations

  • McEwen-Smith L, Fleming G, Hirsch C, Buckley S, Ward J, Haquez Sm Paudyal V 2018. Candidate preferencing of their future employers in Health Education England pre-registration pharmacist recruitment scheme: An exploration of candidate behaviour and associated factors in their decision making. European Society for Clinical Pharmacy 47th Symposium, Belfast, October. 
  • Buckley, S., Coleman, J.J., Davison, I., Morley, D., Torgerson, C. (2011). “Randomised controlled trials in medical education: a pilot and feasibility study to develop methodological understanding”. In the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference, Vienna, Austria, August.
  • Buckley, S., Thomas, S., Warren, T., Davison, I., Couperthwaite, J. (2008). “A patient pathway-based approach to interprofessional learning” All Together Better Health IV, Stockholm, June.

View all publications in research portal