UKZN Lecturer Receives Fellowship in Medical Education

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‘It is great honour to be a recipient of the Karolinska Fellowship as I find myself in the company of the most innovative, up-and-coming global scholars in medical education,’ said senior clinical psychology lecturer at UKZN, Dr Thirusha Naidu after receiving the new award from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

The fellowship was awarded to a total of 12 international scholars in Medical Education by the Institute - one of the world’s leading medical education centres which is also responsible for selecting the Nobel Prize winners in Medicine.

‘This KIPRIME Fellowship is an indicator of the attention medical education is gaining as a discipline in itself and one that warrants special investment in research and the development of medical education scholars,’ Naidu said.

She said the award arises out of the Karolinksa Prize in Medical Education which, has since 2004, been awarded to established scholars in medical education making major contributions to the field on a global scale.

The award involves support for scholars to develop their current research in medical education. The group of 12 Fellows attended a week-long workshop at the end of last month in which they took part in mentorship meetings and events to stimulate innovative thought. 

‘The award represents affirmation for me that the area of research I have chosen to explore and my work in that area have gained recognition,’ said Naidu. ‘Fellows must be recommended by a previous winner of the main KIPRIME prize. I was recommended by Professor Brian Hodges of the University of Toronto in Canada.’

Through this fellowship Naidu will have the opportunity to focus her research on how concepts such as time and space can be re-envisaged and applied in medical education to create more and better opportunities for effective learning. 

‘I am excited about developing current work on Global North-South issues in medical education. I have been a regular contributor to the School of Health Sciences Teaching and Learning repository of papers in medical and health sciences education,’ she added. 

Words: Nombuso Dlamini

Photograph: Supplied