Dr Sharon Buckley PhD PGCE NTF SFHEA

Dr Sharon Buckley

Birmingham Medical School
Honorary Associate Professor in Medical Education

Contact details

Email
s.g.buckley@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@SharonB51709335
View my research portal
Address
Institute of Clinical Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Sharon is an experienced health professions educator and UK National Teaching Fellow, with a strong record of teaching and innovation, educational research and evidence synthesis to inform policy and practice.

Appointed as Senior Lecturer in Medical Education in 2012, Sharon was the Birmingham Lead for Interprofessional Education (IPE) and latterly Deputy Lead for the Birmingham Masters’ in Education for Health Professionals programme. She was Principal Investigator for national evaluations of the UK Scientist Training Programme and the UK Genomics Education Programme; and led research groups that successfully published two Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic reviews. 

As Honorary Associate Professor in Medical Education since August 2021, Sharon maintains her interest in health professions education: current activities include Senior Associate Editor for The Clinical Teacher, Trustee and Board Leadership Team member for the Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) and educational writing and research.

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 Hons (upper second) Microbiology, University of Liverpool, UK 

Biography

Sharon has worked extensively to develop Interprofessional Education (IPE) at the University of Birmingham, in the West Midlands region and nationally and internationally. As the Birmingham lead for IPE  (2012-2021), she established the Birmingham IPE steering group and led the development of the Birmingham IPE Educational Framework. In 2018, she founded the Universitas 21 Health Sciences IPE Special Interest Group, which holds an annual international student team challenge. Her latest project is to develop CAIPE standards for IPE design, development and delivery. 

Sharon has published aspects of her work, including two Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic reviews (2016 and 2009). She was founding member of the CUBE2 BEME International Collaborating Centre and has served as Member of the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) collaboration review editorial committee. In 2016, she established the Healthcare Scientist Training Research and Evaluation Group, which published the first evaluations of teaching and learning on the UK Scientist Training Programme. 

Sharon has led faculty development for health professionals and academic staff and mentored colleagues working to develop and obtain recognition for their research and teaching excellence, more recently participants in the ‘The Clinical Teacher New Voices’ programme for aspiring peer reviewers.

Trained as a microbiologist, Sharon taught science in both secondary and post-16 education, holding posts as Head of Science and Head of Sixth Form before joining the University in 2003

In July 2021. Sharon became Honorary Associate Professor of Medical Education, in which role she continues to mentor students and staff and to undertake educational writing and research.

Teaching

Sharon’s teaching responsibilities have included development and delivery of IPE sessions, teaching and course management for the Birmingham Masters in Education for Health Professionals and leadership of the MBChB final year Written Professional Communication module. She has taught and assessed for the Birmingham PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and has undertaken a range of tutoring and faculty development roles.

Postgraduate supervision

Sharon has supervised PG Diploma in Education and educational research Masters students to successful completion and contributed to PhD supervision and assessment.

Research

Sharon’s research interests centre on the evaluation of health professions education interventions and synthesis of evidence for the effectiveness of such interventions. 

Major projects have included Principal Investigator for the National Evaluation of the UK Healthcare Scientist Training Programme (2017-2021) and for the National Evaluation of the UK Genomics Education Programme (2019-2022).

Sharon was a Founding member of the CUBE2 Best Evidence Medical Education International Collaborating Centre and has served on the BEME review editorial committee. She is the lead author for two BEME systematic reviews. 

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Buckley, S. (2022) “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 (3rd Edition). In press.

  • Audet E, Hirsch C, Vickneswaran K, Ayib M, Arain M, Norton T, Buckley S. (2020) ‘ Building and sustaining student leadership in IPE:  experience with the Knowledge and Skills Exchange IPE Society In Forman D, Jones M and Thistlethwaite J. (Eds) Leadership, Resilience and Sustainability in Interprofessional Collaboration. Palgrave MacMillan.

  • 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

Invited Editorials

  • Barrett A, Buckley S (2022)Trust in health professions education publishing. The Clinical Teacher 19(1): 5
  • Buckley S, Barrett A (2021) What is your story? The Clinical Teacher 18(3): 205
  • Buckley S. (2020) The case for national standards for the development, management and delivery of interprofessional education (IPE). The Clinical Teacher 17: 231-233.
  • Thistlethwaite J, Locke R, Buckley S, Chandratilake M, Jensen G, van Schalkwyck S, Weller-Newton (2020) Global perspectives on COVID-19 from the editorial board. The Clinical Teacher 17: 234-237
  • Buckley S, Chalmers L, McLarnon N. (2019) A CAIPE project to develop UK national standards for the design, management and delivery of Interprofessional education (IPE). Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education Newsletter. December 2019.

Peer reviewed papers

  • Smith M, Buckley S, Davison I (2022) Enhancing trainee clinical scientists’ self-regulated learning in the workplace. The Clinical Teacher In press.
  • Smith M, Patel J, Gay S, Davison I, Buckley S (2021) Clinical Scientists’ early career choices and progression: an exploratory mixed methods study. BMC Health Services Research 21(1): 1-9
  • Buckley S, Smith ME, Patel J, Gay S, Davison I (2021) An enhanced model for leadership development for trainees and early career health professionals: insights from a national survey of UK clinical scientists. BMJ Leader https://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/early/2022/04/29/leader-2021-000465
  • McEwen-Smith L, Price MJ, Fleming G, Swanwick T, Hirsch C, Yahouche A, Ward J, Buckley S, Paudyal V. (2020) How do pharmacy students select their pre-registration training providers? A mixed methods evaluation of the national recruitment scheme in England and Wales.  International Journal of Pharmacy Practice https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12609

  • McEwen Smith L, Price MJ, Fleming G, Swanwick T, Hirsch C, Yahyouche A, Ward J, Buckley S, Shamim A, Paudyal V.  (2020) National recruitment scheme for pre-registration pharmacist training in England and Wales: A mixed method evaluation of early experiences of applicant pharmacy students BMC Medical Education 19 (1): 453-462.

  • 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

  • Buckley S (2021) Student co-production at the University of Birmingham (case study). In Interprofessional Leadership Learning for pre-registration health and care students: a guide for health education providers. NHS Leadership Academy (in press).

  • 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

Selected Workshops and Webinars

  • Buckley S, et al. (2018-date): Workshops forUniversitas 21 Health Sciences Group Annual Meetings:
    Developing collaborations for IPE research, Monterrey Sept 2021 (online)
    COVID-19 and IPE: adaptations and impact, Dublin 2020 (online)
    Contemporary challenges in IPE, Glasgow 2019
    Forum on building sustainability in IPE, Melbourne 2018.

  • 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.

Selected Oral presentations

  • S.Buckley (2021) Invited speaker: The case for national standards for Interprofessional Education (IPE). In Interprofessional Education: towards consistency and consensus. A symposium for The Association for Medical Education Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference September 2021 

  • Patel J, Buckley S, Gay S, Davison I, Hewison A (2019) UK trainee clinical scientist perceptions and experience of Interprofessional Education. In the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference, Vienna, September2019 (ID 1883)
  • 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.

View all publications in research portal