Team DFTB is excited to announce that we will have six DFTB Fellows working in the Paediatric Emergency Department at the Royal London Hospital with specifically dedicated DFTB time each week over the next two years. We will introduce you to them all as they start – they are a mix of paediatric and EM trainees, most of whom are at the end of their training, and come from the UK, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa. You’ve already met our first DFTB Fellow, Rebecca Paxton. Now it’s time to meet the next couple.
Helena Winstanley
How are you feeling about being the first DFTB Fellow cohort?
Hi there! My name is Helena, and I am the second DFTB fellow to have been appointed at the Royal London Hospital in East London. I am both excited and nervous to be taking on this role, as this will be the first time I’ve been involved in anything on this scale, but I can’t wait to see how it develops over the next few months.
What attracted you to the role?
I was attracted to the fantastic dual opportunity of having some dedicated non-clinical time to work on an education project combined with the privilege of working in the best ED in London (in my slightly biased opinion). I have always loved teaching and education, and to be able to be involved with such an amazing, inspiring group of people as the DFTB team is the chance of a lifetime!
What project will you be working on and why?
I am working on the same project as Bec – attempting to produce a set of teaching materials for a six-month PEM education programme. In particular, I am looking at our feedback loop in terms of how we can evaluate and improve our content. It is a new and potentially very large project that will involve many contributors. We need a robust mechanism to ensure the content we produce is valuable to those on the shop floor.
What will you be doing for the rest of your week?
My background is in General Paediatrics with a focus on acute paediatrics, and I completed my formal training earlier this year. I had always intended to take some time after my training to bolster my ED skills, as this area of medicine has been one I have enjoyed since I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed medical student. I was keen to look for a post that would allow me to pursue my education interests, so I feel very fortunate to have been given the chance to be a DFTB Fellow.
During the rest of this week, I’ll be working in the ED, trying not to catch another viral URTI, as winter is well and truly upon us… I’ll also be scratching my head, trying to find the best way to ensure the people who use our modules can let us know what they think about them and how we can keep improving.
Outside of work, I’ll be rehearsing Christmas Carols (sorry, I know we’re not quite there yet) with my church choir and trying to memorise Old English lyrics, which is a lot of fun and keeps the non-medical brain cells alive and kicking!
What are you most looking forward to?
I am most looking forward to being involved in a project that has the potential to reach so many people across different continents and really improve their confidence and knowledge of Paediatric Emergency Medicine. This opportunity to collaborate with so many experienced people in the world of FOAMed is unparalleled, and I am excited to learn from the hugely talented bunch of people that make up DFTB!
Can others get involved to help you with this project?
Yes, please!! Anyone with advice or knowledge of impact assessment, I’d be very grateful for your thoughts and ideas as the project takes shape. Equally, as we develop the questionnaires and feedback mechanisms, people with the technical know-how to embed these into our website will be welcomed with open arms!
Chris Odedun
How are you feeling about being the first DFTB Fellow cohort?
I’m feeling good! It’s early days (week #2 as I’m writing) but I’m very impressed with the DFTB team’s strategic direction and their desire to look far and wide to gain new skills in the form of new team members, like me ☺️. The other educational fellows in the department at RLH are very kind and welcoming.
What attracted you to the role?
The department has an excellent reputation for education and teamwork, one that I think many adult EDs in general can learn from—in terms of staff autonomy, pastoral care, and putting continuous learning at the centre of processes. I know I learn best when in an environment that delivers supportive feedback regularly.
I’ve previously taken time out of my training to delve into medical education and leadership, and the role will be a great way to combine creative practice with skills gained from those other roles.
Bec’s had a slight head start on the project as she started a few months ago – how have things been going
From what I’ve seen, she’s made really impressive headway. I will draw both from my educational background and from my experience with podcasts and radio to help create content for the curriculum she’s worked on and ensure its reach is as broad as possible.
What will you be doing for the rest of your week?
I finished my UK emergency medicine training in October. The rest of my work week is about stepping up my practice to deliver excellent paediatric emergency care without any distractions a training programme provides regarding box-ticking so I can take this into my consultant career.
Outside of work, I’ve been recording a regular internet music show for around five years, and I’m keen to expand my interviewing repertoire. Taking care of a naughty and affectionate dog is a big part of our home life, and I’m working hard to learn to swim at pool length by the time I move on!
What are you most looking forward to?
Collaboration is key for me. I clearly have some excellent peers and mentors to learn from. I’d echo what Bec has said that DFTB (and indeed the FOAMed movement) benefits from a diversity of voices. I’d love to involve non-clinical staff and patients in our work where possible. I would love to hear ideas from our resource users about how best to do this. If they’re keen on these thoughts, please get in touch!
