Congratulations, Helena! What does this appointment mean to you? How will you celebrate?
“Thank you! It feels like a wonderful acknowledgement of my work. I am happy and proud to be able to write Professor, Excellent Teacher and Senior Consultant at a University Hospital after my name. It truly symbolises the threefold mission of my joint appointment, combining research, teaching and clinical practice. I will celebrate with a dinner together with my colleague Helena Forsblad d’Elia, who was also appointed. Preparing the application is a substantial undertaking, and we have encouraged one another throughout the process.”
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging aspect of being a teacher?
“Working as both a doctor and a teacher has many similarities. Being a doctor is, in many ways, a daily educational endeavour. You need to be able to explain things to patients and work from their needs, much like in your interactions with individual students. What do you hope to achieve from today’s appointment, or from today’s teaching session? Being able to meet that need is very rewarding, but perhaps also the greatest challenge. People are different and may find it easier or harder to express what they need.”
You have developed two digital learning tools for medical students – tell us about them!
“One is a computer programme called Cura-Quiz. Students are presented with clinical cases in which they must select appropriate investigations, make a diagnosis and provide initial treatment. At the same time, the programme gives feedback on how an experienced doctor would approach the case and explains the reasoning behind those decisions. I have collaborated with Anton Tibblin, a lecturer in Computer Engineering at Malmö University. His students have helped us develop the programme as part of their project work, with me acting as the client, so to speak.”
The second tool is an app that teaches students about diabetes, is that right?
“Exactly. It is an app called Cura-Ami. Students receive reports containing simulated blood glucose readings. They also receive alerts when glucose levels are rising or falling, just as real patients do. We have linked the alerts to different scenarios, and students must identify common symptoms, explain why blood glucose levels become too high or low, and then choose the appropriate intervention. The aim is to teach them about diabetes, but it also provides other important insights. After a few days, you begin to get rather tired of the app. Patients, however, need to monitor these things for the rest of their lives.”
How would you describe yourself as a teacher?
“Empathetic, curious, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Those are also qualities I recognised in the best teachers during my own education. I try to create an open and supportive learning environment. No question is too silly. I am also very fond of using Mentimeter questions. They do not single anyone out, but allow us to discuss why some answers are correct and others are not, and why, based on my experience, I may recommend one option over another.”
You are responsible for introducing EPAs in Semester 6 of the medical programme. What are they?
“Because the new medical programme leads directly to medical registration, students must acquire the competencies required of a fully qualified doctor. EPA stands for Entrustable Professional Activities and is a framework designed to ensure that students develop these competencies while also making specific aspects of learning more visible.”
The University of Gothenburg has introduced the title Excellent Teacher as a way of recognising outstanding teaching expertise. Assessment is based on university-wide evaluation criteria and requires, among other things, the submission of a teaching portfolio. A small number of teachers are appointed each year.
Read more about being appointed an Excellent Teacher here.
TEXT: KARIN ALLANDER | PHOTO: JOHAN WINGBORG
