A leading Cardiff University expert in medical education has been awarded the highest ever prize by his colleagues in recognition of his ‘outstanding’ achievements in developing and implementing world-class medical education.
Professor John Bligh, Cardiff University’s Dean of Medical education, was awarded the Gold Medal of the Academy of Medical Educators in recognition of his outstanding achievements. The award is the only one of its kind and is the highest honour ever awarded by the Academy.
Presenting the award at a special ceremony as he stepped down at the end of his three-year term of office, the Academy’s new President, Professor Sean Hilton said: “Professor John Bligh’s service to medical education has been exceptional in a number of key areas.
“His outstanding achievements in leading the development and implementation of world-class medical education programmes at the University of Liverpool and Peninsula Medical School.
“His unfailing dedication to the fostering and development of internationally important medical education research and scholarship. During his time as Editor in Chief of Medical Education, it became the world-leading journal in the field, a position it still holds
“Finally, his vision and drive in establishing the Academy of Medical Educators in 2006 and his outstanding service as its President. The Academy is now the professional standard-setting body for all medical teachers.”
A leading figure in designing medical education, Professor Bligh is the former Vice Dean, Professor of Clinical Education and Director of the Institute for Clinical Education at Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and led the Expert Advisory Panel on assessment and selection for the Tooke Inquiry into MMC, and was Editor in Chief of Medical Education between 1997 and 2005.
He also represented medical education research on the 2008 HEFCE Research Assessment Exercise.
Accepting his award, Professor Bligh said: “I am delighted to be awarded this honour from a professional organisation whose declared aim is to improve standards of patient care through teaching excellence.
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as the Academy’s first President and I look forward to seeing it go from strength to strength in the coming years.”
Professor Bligh is currently leading a major modernisation review of Cardiff University’s medical undergraduate curriculum.
Professor Paul Morgan, Dean and Head of the School of Medicine at Cardiff University, said: “This is a fitting recognition of the superb work that John Bligh has done in Medical Education over the last two decades. By awarding this Medal, his peers recognise him as the outstanding individual in UK Medical Education today.
“We are delighted that he is now here in Cardiff and leading on the development of our 21st Century curriculum.”
