Sara Alwarthan

I am a doctor in a university hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. As well as specialising in the treatment of infectious diseases, I have a duty to research and to teach our undergraduates, postgraduates, residents and fellows. Teaching is a priority for me, but it isn’t always easy to balance these different roles. That’s why I decided to study for RCSI's Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education.

A one-year course split into four modules, it was almost entirely online, and I was initially a little nervous about this. But not for long: the flipped class approach meant we did a lot of readings before class and then applied them in our online groups. Not only did I find this an interesting way to learn, but it gave me so many ideas about how I could teach my own students.

And the participants weren’t just doctors, with nurses, physiotherapists, researchers and other health professionals also taking part. This inter-professional approach to education was quite new to me, and it was such a refreshing way to learn. I quickly made amazing, supportive and welcoming friends with my online classmates.

I was really impressed by the excellent resources that RCSI provided including full library access, books and updated journals. We are busy professionals trying to balance work and family commitments, and it was really clear that RCSI knew how to make it easier and more approachable for their students.

RCSI’s approach was holistic in that we learned the theories and pedagogy but also had a lot of very practical assessments. We did micro-teaching exercises, a self-reflective portfolio, a group project and a peer-review teaching exercise.

As for peer learning, I recorded one of my lectures and this was reviewed by my colleagues and, in turn, I reviewed theirs. I know this might sound really daunting, but we were trained in how to provide constructive and helpful feedback that won’t feel harsh or judgmental. I learned so much from that alone.

I have since started a committee for peer observation in my own hospital. Because there were so many practical elements that made us reflect on learning, I have really been able to apply this to my teaching. It has put me on the right track to be a better educator.

It was a marvellous journey – truly eye-opening and transformative at a personal and professional level.