Mary Lawson appointed new ANZCA Director of Education

In welcoming Ms Lawson’s appointment, ANZCA CEO, Dr Mike Richards, said Mary’s previous experiences in both the clinical and educational environments would be extremely valuable and relevant to her new position at the College.

“She is passionate about the delivery of high quality, safe and effective patient care and the continuous improvement of medical education to meet these goals”, he said.

Ms Lawson, who will take up her appointment from 18 February 2008, has worked in academic medicine for the last two decades, first in clinical pharmacology and then in medical education since 1992. She comes to the College from Monash University where she has been Senior Lecturer in Medical Education in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences.

Her early work in medical education was in the UK (at Imperial, King’s College, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield medical schools) although she has now worked in the Australasian medical education context for almost six years. She has worked predominantly in the University sector with a major emphasis on the professional development of clinicians as educators. This work has brought her into direct contact with the demands of postgraduate medical teaching across all clinical disciplines. Her work at RACS as an educator within the Basic Surgical Training arena has also contributed to this experience and understanding. 

At Monash Ms Lawson developed and implemented the Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education and coordinated this course for its first three years while developing the course to Masters level. Anaesthetists have been among the diverse group of clinicians pursuing both of these programs of study.

In her research activity she has coordinated projects commissioned by a large number of bodies including the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), the Department of Human Services (Victoria), The Department for Education and Employment, UK and the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance.

Dr Richards said that this has provided her with a broad perspective on the realities, restrictions and regulation of medical education.

“Her recent research for DEST as part of the Australian Medical Education Study has investigated how effectively medical schools are preparing graduates to undertake specialty training. This will be invaluable experience when she evaluates the training curriculum at ANZCA as one of her first responsibilities at the College”, he said.

“Over the next two years the College will be undertaking a comprehensive review of its Training Program and its various components, and Mary’s coordination of, and participation in, these initiatives will be invaluable. She is passionate about the delivery of high quality, safe and effective patient care and the continuous improvement of medical education to meet these goals.”