Welcome to the latest edition of the ELM Newsletter for 2015

Otago Medical School

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ELM NEWS September 2015

Special - Staff News update

A farewell was held for Tony Egan earlier in the year, to celebrate his long and successful career with the University of Otago Medical School. Although Tony has been the ELM Assessment Coordinator since 2008, his University career has included a number of roles across the medical school, beginning with his first job with the Department of Psychology in 1969. Over the years Tony has been very active as a teacher, researcher and also advisor to professional bodies nationally and internationally. He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of GPs in recognition of his contribution to the profession. On behalf of the ELM programme we wish Tony all the very best and thank him for his outstanding contribution to medical education generally.

The Otago Medical School, ELM Programme welcomes Dr John Egbuji as the recently appointed Assessment Convenor, responsible for overseeing the very important task of assessment for our ELM students.

"I hail from The Philippines where I was born, raised and educated. After completing medical school and practicing medicine for a few years in Manila, I decided to explore medical research and took up a position at the University of Auckland. Whilst in Auckland serendipity stepped in and I discovered my love for teaching. I had reluctantly offered to cover a colleague who was unable to deliver a teaching session to a group of medical students. In spite of my preparations I felt nervous at the start of the session but this quickly dissipated as the students asked questions and I found myself helping them to form logical connections between concepts. It was stimulating and a real high. Ultimately, I decided to focus my career on teaching and this led me to take a position as a Teaching Fellow with Otago in 2012. Over the last few years I have become increasingly interested in how best to support student learning and am thrilled to be able to take up the position of Assessment Convenor as it affords me greater opportunities to impact the learning of our medical students". John Egbuji - ELM Assessment Convenor, john.egbuji@otago.ac.nz

We were sorry to see Cheryl Pickering resign from the ELM Programme as ELM 2/3 Clinical Skills Administrator. Cheryl and family have moved back to her home city of Wellington. At a farewell for Cheryl, it was noted that prior to the Hunter Centre, the first cohort of ELM students in 2008 were taught clinical skills in a makeshift combination of rooms in the Fraser and Hercus Buildings. Since those early days, Cheryl contributed a great deal to improving the successful teaching of early clinical skills to medical students in years 2/3. Cheryl will be missed, especially for her calm and helpful manner during the ELM OSCE sessions.

Welcome to Pip Dixon, who has taken over the role of Clinical Skills Administrator, ELM.

"I am an MSc graduate of the Department of Geography, and have worked in a variety of occupations ranging from working for a Catering Company to an Environmental Consultant. Since returning to Otago University I have worked in positions in the Central Library, as a Research Assistant and as a Laboratory Technician in the Department of Geography.
I love the outdoors, running when my ACL reconstruction lets me, and growing, cooking and eating great food. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with you all in the ELM Programme."

Pip is located in the Skills Admin offices, in the Hunter Centre and can be contacted on: 479 4859

pip.dixon@otago.ac.nz

Welcome also to new OMS staff member Tanya Lyders. Tanya has taken over from Shirley Skinner and provides the administrative, accounts and reception role for the OMS, Roberton Offices in the Sayers Building. Tanya has worked in a number of other departments in the University including the central timetables office. The ELM Programme is grateful for her administrative and accounts assistance.

Tanya can be contacted on 479 7420, tanya.lyders@otago.ac.nz

Lawrence Shannon has been appointed as ICT Planning and Liason Officer for the Division of Health Sciences and is currently based in the OMS IT office. He is providing advice and expertise to assist with the range of ICT related projects and plans being developed by the Medical School, including for the ELM Programme.

Lawrence can be contacted by email: lawrence.shannon@otago.ac.nz

Forward

ELM NEWS September 2015

The Otago Medical School, ELM Programme welcomes Dr John Egbuji as the recently appointed Assessment Convenor, responsible for overseeing the very important task of assessment for our ELM students.

pip.dixon@otago.ac.nz

Contributions welcome to philip.tilson@otago.ac.nz