Senior lecturer awarded prestigious ‘Silver Medal’

A senior lecturer from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine has been presented with the President’s Silver Medal by the Academy of Medical Educators for her outstanding contribution to medical education.

Professor Derek Gallen, President of the Academy of Medical Educators awarded the Silver Medal to Julie Browne at the recent Annual Meeting of the Academy held in Manchester.

The President’s Silver Medal is a prestigious award presented to an outstanding individual who has significantly contributed to the aims of the Academy to improve the quality of medical education for the benefit of patients.

On receiving the award Julie Browne said: “I’m surprised and delighted to have been awarded this beautiful medal.  It is always satisfying to have your work recognised, but to be honoured by the leading professional organisation in the field - the Academy of Medical Educators - is a huge accolade.  It is also a testament to the outstanding work being done here at Cardiff to lead the way in medical education scholarship and practice.

“Medical education is very much a team sport, and I am grateful to my colleagues and students at Cardiff for their support and encouragement.  We can’t expect medical students to become excellent doctors without excellent teaching – that is, teaching by qualified and skilled teachers, based on the best evidence and backed up by a solid supporting infrastructure.  At Cardiff the students, clinicians, teachers and professional services staff are inspired by this vision. It’s great to work with people who, like me, believe in improving patient care through excellence in medical education.’

The Academy of Medical Educators is a national professional body established in 2006 that promotes excellence in medical education and which publishes standards to guide medical educators and regulatory bodies. There are two categories of full membership, Membership and Fellowship, both awarded after rigorous peer review process.

On presenting the award Professor Derek Gallen President of the Academy of Medical Educators said: "I was delighted to present this years presidents medal to Julie Browne. The medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to medical education. Julie unquestionably fulfils that remit. Her contribution not only to the work of the academy of medical educators but to the wider field of medical education has been exemplary for many years and she is held, rightly, in high regard by her peers.”

Julie Browne is currently a senior lecturer in academic practice in the School of Medicine at Cardiff University. She has been a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators since 2008. Her contribution to the Academy has been, and continues to be, enormous.