Education and Training | Education Committee | Directors of Clinical Training | Medical Education Officers | Projects
Medical Education Officers
Medical Education Officers (MEO) form an expanding profession both nationally and more recently in Western Australia. Individuals come from varied backgrounds ranging from education, to nursing, administration and so forth. With this, the Medical Education Officer has become an integral link in the pre-vocational junior doctor's education and training experience.
How to become Medical Education Officer
Medical Education Officer are recruited by the employing hospital.
Medical Education Officer Experiences
Helen Butterfield, MEO at Royal Perth Hospital shares her experience:
I commenced my appointment as Medical Education Officer for Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) in May 2003. Based on-site, I work collaboratively with senior medical staff responsible for the supervision and education of pre-vocational junior doctors. The RPH Postgraduate Medical Education team to which I belong consists of a Director, two Directors of Clinical Training (DCTs), Rural GP Coordinator, Senior Registrar and Administration Officer. In addition I liaise regularly with Heads of Department and Medical Administration.
My role as the MEO within the hospital's postgraduate team is to organise and facilitate the education, training, feedback and supervision of Junior Medical Officers. In addition, providing support for the JMOs personal welfare, coordinating evaluation, reviewing the effectiveness of teaching and resources along with overall JMO support.
I interact with the hospital's Interns on a weekly basis and liaise with Residents regularly. Being at the coalface enables me to have an accurate view of the current needs of the hospital's junior medical staff. This is an effective tool in conjunction with formal needs analysis.
Some of the key activities I perform as MEO at Royal Perth Hospital include the development, implementation and evaluation of;
- programs for hospital wide and unit based orientation
- the JMO education program in clinical and broader based professional skills
- clinical skill development training including the use of an onsite level 2 patient simulator
- contribute to the monitoring and improvement of the quality of supervision including teaching, feedback, learning opportunities, appraisal and assessment
- courses for supervisors of JMOs, for example – Teaching on the Run
- develop appropriate evaluation tools and reports on findings
All the above activities are undertaken in partnership with appropriate hospital personnel.
As MEO I always ensure that I am visible and readily available to assist individual JMOs when required. It is this regular face to face interaction that I find to be one of most important if not essential roles an MEO can perform. The MEO provides the unique opportunity for the JMO to seek assistance/ support in a non-threatening and confidential manner. The MEO can then facilitate the assistance a Junior Doctor may need in times of distress or for just general enquiries. In addition as Medical Education Officer I have also had the opportunity to liase directly with many senior hospital staff. This has assisted in facilitating effective training opportunities.
I'm confident that the role of MEO will continue to grow and develop based largely on JMO and individual hospital needs both within RPH and across WA. It is an interesting and enjoyable position in which to be employed and one that has proven itself to be imperative.
Current Medical Education Officer (or equivalent) in Western Australia
| Hospital | Name |
Fremantle |
Ms Zoe Moran |
King Edward Memorial |
Ms Susan King |
Princess Margaret |
Ms Chhavi Pal |
Royal Perth |
Ms Stephanie Ho |
Sir Charles Gairdner |
Ms Jacqui Pettett |
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