Dr Martina Balaam (PhD MSc PgCert Prof Ed Ba (Hons) RGN RNT FHEA)
Fellow in Medical Education/Deputy Theme Head (PPD)

Background
Biography: Martina Balaam
I have been working in medical,nursing, health, and social care education for over 20 years teaching public health, research methods, evidence based practice, interprofessional education and personal and professional development. Currently I am the Deputy Theme Lead for personal and professional development within the undergraduate medical programme at the University of Edinburgh. I am particularly interested in the Sociology of medicine and health professions, particularly issues of gender, the education and development of the medical, health and social care workforce and the implications of the media representation of professions on public opinion.
Qualifications
I have recently completed an interdiciplinary PhD (sociology, media and communication studies and nursing), “Virtuous, Invisible and Unconcerned: Nurses, Nursing and the Media”. I have a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Science, from Lancaster University, a Masters in Health Promotion/Education from Edinburgh University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Education from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. I have professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as A Registered Nurse/Adult and a Lecturer/Practice Educator.
Responsibilities & affiliations
Council Member of the UK Council for Teachers of Professionalism
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of Nursing Midwifery Council
Undergraduate teaching
Personal and Professional Development
Health Ethics and Society
Health promotion
Postgraduate teaching
Professional Education
MSc Public Health/ Sociology of Health and Illness
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Current PhD students supervised
MSc Clinical Education
Past PhD students supervised
MSc Public Health Practice Dissertations
MSc Nursing Dissertations
BSc (hons) Nursing Dissertations
Past research interests
Co Researcher: Evaluation of Education for Senior Healthcare Support Workers (SCQF Level 7) and Assistant Practitioners (SCQF Level 8) in Children and Young People’s Health with Optional Pathways., Research Funding (£35,000) NHS Education Scotland 2010 Research Fellow: Identifying the concept of cumulative trivia in the older person. Funded and supported by Dr Lisbeth Hockey and the Queens Nursing Institute: Scotland. Department of Community Health: General Practice, Edinburgh University 2002Project activity
Project Manager: Scottish Workforce Empowerment for Life Long Learners project which enabled 27 students to complete the Higher education Certificate in Health and Social Care. The project aimed to address barriers to progression in work and lifelong learning. Project Funding European Social funding 2006.
Project Manager: Evaluation of Education for Senior Healthcare Support Workers (SCQF Level 7) and Assistant Practitioners (SCQF Level 8) in Children and Young People’s Health with Optional Pathways., Research Funding NHS Education Scotland 2010.
Project Manager (PT) Online learning Development Queen Margaret University. 2002-2004
Papers delivered
2017 How to make Teaching Professionalism Fun: Association of Medical Educators (AMEE). Helsinki
2017 Because I’m Happy: How to Make Teaching Professionalism Fun. Scottish Medical Education Conference. Edinburgh.
2017 How Medical Students Can Keep Well. Edinburgh University Mental Health Week. Edinburgh.
2016 Dr Who: Public and Personal Perceptions of the Good Doctor. South East Faculty of Clinical Educators. Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh.
2011 “Nurses, nursing and British television hospital drama and hospital based comedy. The implications for Nursing” the Truth about Nursing's Annual Conference. Empowering nurses and improving care through better understanding of nurses New Orleans USA (Oral)
2009 “Nurses, nursing and British television hospital drama and hospital based comedy Implications for Nursing”. Staff Conference Queen Margaret University Edinburgh (Poster)
2008 “Nurses, nursing and British television hospital drama and hospital based comedy Implications for Nursing”. PhD Conference Queen Margaret University Edinburgh (Poster)
2004 “Higher Education Certificate for Carers, Effective Partnership Approaches to Inclusion”, Lothian Adult Guidance Network. (Oral)
2001 “Cumulative Trivia” in the elderly”, Edinburgh University Department of General practice Research forum (Oral)