Julie Stokes

What do you do in your current role/area of expertise?

I am very lucky to have the opportunity to use a wide range of skills in my current role. Through my role I am able to share my 30 years’ experience of clinical practice with the new generation of radiographers and develop new modules to ensure students are aware of the most updated techniques and procedures, helping them to be adaptable and able to deliver person centred care.

I have supported and developed leadership placements with the local trust and teach students about leadership, coaching and mentoring. I am able to act as a role model through undertaking deputy programme leadership and also as a joint Operational Lead for the Health and Life Sciences Faculty Interprofessional Education events.

I have been able to further develop a peer mentor scheme that has been include in national documents.  I had the opportunity to share this research with Health Education England, NHS England, and through presenting at UKIO.  I will also be sharing it at the SCoR Achieving Excellence in Radiography Education and Research Conference in November 2024, as a means of sharing examples of best practice.

I have been recognised for my excellence in teaching and education through being awarded with university ‘Teacher Fellow’ status, allowing me to support others across the university with their teaching practices. I use gamification in my teaching and have the opportunity to share the research behind this method of teaching and active learning to others.  Again this area of my work will be presented at the SCoR Achieving Excellence in Education Conference in November.

I believe I work collaboratively with others and inspire others to be their best.

What do you do in your current role/ area of expertise?

I have always had a role that supported students and other colleagues, whether it was through CPD lunch time sessions, supporting the university with vivas and interviews, or taking students to practice on those quieter days.

I was a trainer for many years in moving and handling, BLS, ILS and supported the training of junior radiologists to perform barium enemas, IVUs and CT colograms.

Formal qualifications such as postgraduate certificates in practice education were not as readily available when I was clinical.  I delivered clinical skills training, supported the clinical supervisor training and signed other supervisors off.  To help students feel welcomed and supported on placement I held student huddles.  These would allow the students to raise and concerns or issues in a safe space.

I completed a PgCert HE in 2012, then moved into a practice educator role in 2014 to support other AHPs and medical student training and also interprofessional education. I learnt the similarities of different professional student and staff groups and supported the initial apprenticeship routes for occupational therapy and physiotherapy in the trust. I also taught on the trainee nursing associate apprenticeship course.

I then moved into higher education and back to Radiography in 2020. I earned my Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2021 and then was awarded a university Teacher Fellow in 2024, which I begin this academic year.

What support did you have along the way or would have been helpful to have had?

Within our Trust we only had one practice educator role with the rest being clinical supervisors- The education role was not really promoted as a career path. This has thankfully changed now, but it was difficult to get into practice education due to the limited opportunities.

I would have welcomed further opportunities to take on a PGcert in education as I had to undertake my PGcert in my own time, there was no opportunity to do this otherwise.  I think it would also be helpful to have had ‘Insight into Higher Education’ days, with opportunities to shadow lecturers- this would provide prospective would-be academics with more insight into the role before they take the plunge.

What is the most rewarding thing about your role?

The most rewarding thing about my role is seeing the journey that students make from year one to when they qualify.

I love inspiring them to be their best, seeing them achieve more than they thought they could and to reach their goals, is just an honour to be a part of.

What advice can you give to others who might want to work towards this role or follow a similar pathway?

There are lots of different way to begin working toward an education role.  Firstly get involved with the students, support them, remember how hard the degree is, ask to be a supervisor, and attend training provided at the university.  Ask if it would be possible to come and deliver a lecture or shadow a lecturer for the day.  I would also suggest getting involved with supporting student interviews.  Ask for advice through the professional body on how you can get involved in the College of Radiographers (CoR)  Practice Educator Accreditation Scheme (PEAS) and start collecting your evidence towards it- this can help you focus your professional development around practice education.

Enjoy learning from students, they have so much enthusiasm and passion- you learn just as much from them as they do from you.

Inspire others to want to keep learning and developing, find the area that they truly love and encourage them.