What are we about?

Drawing upon strong local, national and international research links, we ultimately aim to benefit student learning and the future patients that they will serve. We are committed to producing internationally excellent health profession educational research and translate our findings into educational practice and policy.

Our underpinning desire is driven by

• Wanting to make a Change through Scholarly activity
• Building and sustaining Capacity for scholarly activity to thrive
• Enhancing our scholarly Culture
• Developing a Cohesive Community of practice
• Supporting individual Career trajectories

Areas of Interest and Expertise in SERN

We have a number of key areas of research interest and expertise including (click on each title for full details):

• Assessment (Lead Dr Peter Watson)
• Medical Humanities (Lead Mr Ian Walsh)
• Qualitative and quantitative methodologies used in health profession educational research (Prof Tim Dornan and Dr Gerry Gormley)
• Simulation based learning (Lead Dr Michael Williams)
• Technology Enhanced Learning (Lead  Dr Kieran McGlade)

SERN Activities

At SERN we offer a wide range of resources and activities:

• Supervision  of research students to both Masters and PhD level
• Research training environment for undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Monthly Doctoral Group meetings
• Monthly Research and Scholarly seminars
• Quarterly Master Class workshops facilitated by leading international educational researchers
• Annual Health Profession Educational Research Conference

SERN research mission statement

We are dedicated to the pursuit of high quality, rigorous educational research. We are committed to using our knowledge for the mutual benefit of doctors, students and patients. We aspire to promote social justice and to advance the work of the health profession through our research.

SERN research activity

SERN members have wide experience of a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies and support is available for anyone interested in taking on Masters, Doctoral or staff development projects. Visit the resources section at the bottom of the page for more detail. 

The current work of the core Research Group is underpinned by a broad social constructionist epistemology. Projects employ a range of methodologies congruent with this orientation, including phenomenology, discourse analysis and constructivist grounded theory. The Research Group promotes theory-driven research and has a particular interest in sociocultural theories of learning.

Current streams of work include:

• Sociocultural aspects of assessment processes
• Professional development and identity in medical education
• Learning to prescribe

Executive Group

SERN has a dedicated Executive Group who oversee the overall strategic development of SERN.

Professor Tim Dornan and Dr Gerry Gormley

Steering Group

SERN has a dedicated and committed steering group who oversee the running and development of SERN and its objectives:

Gerry Gormley (Chair), Tim Dornan, Mairead Boohan, Mairead Corrigan, Ian Walsh, Clare Thomson, Peter Watson

If you want to find out more information about SERN and our activities please contact us: Email Deborah Millar (Deborah.Millar@qub.ac.uk) or Gerry Gormley (g.gormley@qub.ac.uk).