Dr Martina Balaam (PhD MSc PgCert Prof Ed Ba (Hons) RGN RNT FHEA FRSA)

Professionalism and Wellbeing Lead: Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Senior Lecturer in Nursing Studies

Biography

Background

Biography:  Martina Balaam

I am a nurse, healthcare educationalist, researcher and social scientist who has worked in medical, nursing, health, and social care education for over 25 years. Currently I am a  Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and the Lead for Professionalism and Wellbeing within the undergraduate medical programme and a Senior Lecturer. in Nursing. I am interested in the Sociology of medicine and health professions, particularly the education, development and wellbeing of the medical, health and social care workforce and how we can integrate compassion into innovative curricula to transform society.  I am also an associate of the Edinburgh Global Compassion Initiative whose purpose is to enable and embed the evidence and practice of compassion within the University, in Scotland and across and the world.  In this role I work with Global partners to develop programmes of work, share new strategies on compassionate engagement and learn from global and local experiences of how other communities practice compassion.

In addition, I am the founder and director of a literary salon, The Compassion Salon, in Edinburgh to create a community around new and established authors and poets whose work relates to compassion and wellbeing. This is a place for people to connect, inspire and support using books and prose as a means through which to consider the various aspects of human existence in an increasingly fragmented and challenging global community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

I have an interdiciplinary  PhD (sociology, media and communication studies and nursing), “Virtuous, Invisible and Unconcerned:  Nurses, Nursing and the Media”. Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.  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

Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts 

Member of Nursing Midwifery Council

 

Undergraduate teaching

Self Compassion

Evidence and Research

Personal and Professional Development 

Health Ethics and Society

Health promotion

Postgraduate teaching

Self Compassion

Professional Education

MSc Public Health/ Sociology of Health and Illness  

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Past PhD students supervised

 

 

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 2002

Project 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)

 

This article was published on