Callum Mutch

Hello, my name is Callum. I’ve been working in South East Scotland since 2013 as a junior doctor, working in WGH, SJH and RIE. Currently I am training in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases; through which I interact with most other specialties both primary care and secondary. I feel this wide experience and interactions with a large amount of junior doctors within the health board gives me insight in the difficulties faced by those in training.

My interests include the teaching of clinical skills; particularly history taking and clinical examination as these are the key tools of an infectious diseases physician. I am also interested in the interpretation and stewardship of diagnostic investigations, which is one the key skill of a medical microbiologist. I have recently been learning about teaching clinical reasoning through my involvement in a European teaching programme and would be eager to expand my learning in this area.

From a teaching perspective I have experience through being a CTA for 2 years as well as teaching through the infection block on a regular basis. I have examined regularly at OSCEs over the past 3 years. I have completed level 2 of the Clinical Educator Programme. I am interested in optimising the use of technology to improve both education and patient care.

I have undertaken quality improvement projects focused on patient safety and care, including reviewing fluid prescribing, HIV diagnostics and delayed HIV diagnosis. I have research experience working on collecting, cleaning and analysing data for the first wave of COVID-19 cases in NHS Lothian, presenting this work at the NHSL Grand Round in November 2020.

Outside of medicine my hobbies include indoor bouldering, cycling, squash, gaming, wood working and I am a keen cook.

I look forward to meeting and working with the MED team to improve education and training within NHSL

Katherine Ralston

Hello, my name is Kat and I’m a Geriatric and General Medicine Registrar based in NHS Lothian. I completed my undergraduate training and foundation training in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I then moved to New Zealand, working in medical specialities and having a wonderful time travelling around the South Pacific. I moved back to South East Scotland for core medical training and subsequently speciality training in Geriatric and General Medicine. I’m particularly interested in realistic medicine and community geriatrics including hospital at home.

I’ve been interested in medical education since qualifying as a doctor, and have been involved in developing and delivering several teaching programmes. I’m a lead member of the GIM training day committee which organises educational events for medical registrars in South East Scotland. I am also an elected member of the RCPE Trainee and Members Committee, working within the education team. I’m excited to contribute to the development and delivery of high quality education with a focus on trainee wellbeing and resilience through this medical education fellowship.

Outside of work, I love going on walks with Maisie the dog and cooking feasts for friends and family. I have also been helping my partner Jonathan with a new handmade chocolate business, mainly acting in the enviable role of taster-in-chief.

David Maclennan

I am David MacLennan a medical trainee who has recently completed internal medical training in the South-East Deanery. I am actively involved in the clinical education dealing with various grades and professions, having held informal and formal roles during my training. I have developed a keen interest in the non-technical skills of healthcare, particularly on how they are developed and taught throughout healthcare.

Away from work I am an armchair sportsman, amateur cook, poor guitar player and I remain active through running and hiking.

Sam Hopkins

My name is Sam and I am an ST6 in Medical Oncology. I am Canadian and therefore know how to cope when it snows, which I know makes me an outlier here in Scotland. Having lived in the UK for 14 years, I have gained new passions, like becoming a roundabout enthusiast (just wait until you hear me evangelise about them) and bagging munros. I am married and have recently had a baby girl whose favourite toy is a scour. She sleeps with it at night in her cot. This year I am interested in Simulation (specifically creating Acute Oncology Simulation and Mock MDT), integrating evidence from Positive Psychology into the Wellbeing programs (my favourite Behavioural Psychologists are Martin Seligman and Angela Duckworth if you are a fan of this space), Communication Skills (possibly targeted at IMGs) and creating Podcast Learning Resources. Outside of work, I do a lot of cooking, socialising and yoga

Jennifer Mutch

My name is Jen and I am a Higher Trainee (ST6) in Psychiatry of Intellectual Disabilty. I completed my undergraduate medical degree in Edinburgh in 2011 before taking up foundation posts in Durham and Darlington. I then spent just over a year working in General Adult Psychiatry in Sydney and Coffs Harbour, Australia, before a brief stint in Internal Medicine and Neurology back in Edinburgh. I completed Core Training in Psychiatry at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in 2018 before being drawn back to the Scottish capital via Malawi and a voluntary teaching role at the medical school in Blantyre between from February to May 2019.

Outside of my core clinical work, I have a keen interest in public and global health and completed my Masters in Public Health in 2021 through the University of Edinburgh. My dissertation focussed on mental health service models for children and young people with intellectual disabilities and their applicability to and development in the Scottish context. I have been a trustee on the board of the Scotland Malawi Mental Health Education Project (SMMHEP) since 2019, a charitable organisation supporting undergraduate and postgraduate education in Psychiatry in Malawi.

I am keen to develop my interests in undergraduate and postgraduate education and teaching including simulation, curriculum development, staff and student wellbeing and addressing health inequalities through education and training.

Shauna Golden

Hello, I am Shauna Golden, a FY5 who moved to Edinburgh 1 year ago to complete an Msc in Global Health Policy. I worked for the past 3 years in Perth, Australia where I became interested in climate and health. I am interested in Emergency Medicine, Teaching and having a planet we can all live on.

Very talkative and over familiar. Keen to hear all ideas and solutions for Greening NHS Lothian.

Saskia Clark-Stewart

Saskia is a surgical trainee in South-East Scotland with interests in general surgery and surgical education.

She completed her MBChB and BSc at the University of Edinburgh and has enjoyed working across NHS Lothian for much of her training so far.

She continues to explore her interest in surgical education stemming from her role as the Anatomy Research Fellow with UoE where she was recognised as 9 times recipient of the 'Surgical Teacher of the Month Award' and nominated for Teacher of the Year in the Students' Association's 11th Annual Student-led Teaching Awards in 2020.

Saskia is also co-founder of SUTURE UK, an international initiative delivering high-quality, accessible surgical skills training for medical students and junior doctors.

During her time off, Saskia enjoys keeping fit and active enjoying open water swimming and paddle-boarding to counter balance her love of baking.

Arjuna Sivakumaran

My name is Arjuna (or Reggie) and I have been working in Public Health in Lothian's Health Protection Team for the past 2 years since the first wave of the pandemic: mainly in the COVID response across a number of sectors, and laterally in the Monkeypox response. Prior to that I was in general medicine. I trained in the South East Scotland Deanery, completing my foundation training here, as well as a year of Oncology and a couple years of General Medicine, before moving into Public Health.

I am very interested in the trainee experience, and how to improve and give people time and space to learn, especially the foundation doctors. I am also particularly interested in 'civility in the workplace' as a key contributor to improving the training environment and wellbeing, and also have a keen interest in sustainability as well as the relationship between management and training.

I love sports, am a keen hill and trail runner, and have a 2nd child imminently arriving: the due date is end July/early August.

Valerie Rae

Hello, I’m Val Rae, a paediatric registrar working in South East Scotland. I am interested in paediatric high dependency care and implementing strategies within our systems to support wellbeing. Prior to commencing paediatric training, I enjoyed a wonderful year working within the Emergency Department team at RHCYP.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy getting outside for a run or a dunk in the sea as well as yoga and breath work. I can often be found with my head in a good book

Daniel Beck

I'm an Ophthalmology registrar in my 6th year of training. I've taken a year out of programme to pursue my interests in medical education at an undergraduate and postgraduate level. I grew up in the South East of England before attending medical school in Exeter and Plymouth. Since then I have worked in Wales, England and New Zealand before settling in Edinburgh for the duration of my specialty training. I'm interested in teaching, improving medical education and clinical care as well as the use of simulation to improve technical and communication skills. Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family, going on long walks with the dog and more recently, have taken up drawing and painting.