Dr Grace Pearson is a Clinical Lecturer in Ageing Education at the University of Bristol Medical School and a Specialty Doctor in Geriatric Medicine at the Royal United Hospital, Bath. She was recently awarded Ignition funding to undertake a travel fellowship to Australia and New Zealand. Here is her article about the experience:
The opportunity for a research secondment with Professor Tim Wilkinson at the University of Otago, New Zealand, was something that sadly had to be postponed from my PhD Fellowship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After connecting with Professor Andy Teodorczuk and Professor Vasi Naganathan at British Geriatrics Society conferences, I was excited that the opportunity arose again, this time with an even wider scope.
During my travel fellowship I attended three conferences, interspersed with weeks spent at the Universities of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) and Otago (Christchurch, New Zealand). I received mentorship from Professor Andy Teodorczuk (Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Psychogeriatrician) and Professor Tim Wilkinson (Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Medical Education).
In these weeks, I built my portfolio of invited lectures. I gave talks about geriatric medicine education at hospital grand rounds, and in university seminars. I was incredibly fortunate to make so many lasting connections in geriatric medicine, and clinical education research. I felt particularly privileged to learn about indigenous cultures. I took part in a ‘smoking ceremony’ in Australia and learned my very own ‘pepeha’ in New Zealand.
Panels, posters and presentations
First, I attended the Australia/New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific meeting in Sydney. I was an invited speaker on a panel about geriatric medicine education with Professor Teodorczuk, Dr Janini Thillainadesan, and Dr Susan Ogle, chaired by Professor Alison Mudge. I also presented two posters, one as first and one as senior author.
Next, I attended the Australia/New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators Annual Scholarship Meeting in Perth. I gave two oral presentations – one about my PhD fellowship, evaluating curriculum transformation in geriatric medicine at Bristol Medical School, and another on a project I supervised about professionalism reflection sessions for final year medical students.
My final conference was the Lifelong Learning in Pharmacy Conference back in Sydney. I presented a poster about work with Dr Jen Stevenson to develop a national curriculum in ageing/geriatrics for pharmacy students. This was based on my prior experience updating the British Geriatrics Society recommended undergraduate curriculum for medical students.
Clarifying my research goals
It was really rewarding to undertake a period of independent, post-doctoral networking and focused mentorship. I found it very useful to share and discuss my work and learn from others about their research. It helped me clarify and refine my vision for my own research going forwards. The collaborative networks and portfolio items I have gained through this fellowship will be invaluable for my future career. And also invaluable for future postdoctoral fellowship funding applications.
My fellowship has resulted in some ongoing collaborative outputs:
- With Professor Naganathan: an international survey of ageing/geriatric teaching practice at medical schools in Australia and New Zealand.
- With Dr Thillainadesan: an international review of the geriatric medicine content in postgraduate training curricula.
- With Professor Teodorczuk: a write-up of our interprofessional learning symposium, and the first Australasian Delirium Association education position statement.
Above: Grace and Professor Teodorczuk at the Australia/NewZealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney.
The main photo shows the panel at the Australia/New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting. From left to right: Professor Alison Mudge, Dr Susan Ogle, Professor Andy Teodorczuk, Dr Grace Pearson, and Dr Janini Thillainadesan.
Find out more about the Academy Ignition Fund here. If you’d like to apply for funding, the next deadline is 5 December 2025, 5pm.