Our Annual Teachers Conference “Brave learning in challenging times: A hope-centred approach in undergraduate Primary Care,” brought together our community of GP educators for a day of inspiration, reflection and practical learning. The theme of hope resonated throughout, from Dr Argita Zalli’s powerful morning keynote, where she shared her inspiring personal story of hope and its relevance to primary care, to afternoon keynotes from Michael Cole, Dr Naa Okantey, and medical student Yasmin Baker, who explored the concepts of critical hope and power, including the importance of inclusive language, principled spaces and learner-centred approaches.
Critical hope is the effortful practice of imagining something better coupled with a curiosity about power and injustice. Engaging in critical hope requires dialogue, challenge and action rooted in humility and community, whilst remaining alert to the dangers of cruel optimism i.e. actions or objectives which sustain hope but inadvertently undermine it.
Interactive workshops explored hope in feedback, community-engaged learning, sustainable primary care, coaching conversations, digital equity, AI-supported clinical reasoning, and inclusive approaches to language, assessment and group learning.
We were also educated and inspired by students presenting their prize-winning projects from each placement; a huge thanks to all the GP practice staff who supported students with these projects. The day culminated with presentation of the Teacher Awards where we celebrated colleagues’ achievements. You can see the list of worthy winners below.
Feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with teachers leaving energised, connected and reminded of the purpose and impact of GP teaching. We look forward to welcoming even more of our GP teaching community to next year’s conference.
Student award-winning projects
Year 1 PCH Community Survey Project Prize
GP Community Survey Project
Simra Naveed Khan, Suhela Mukherjee, Emily Wheeler, Khalid Yussuf
Dr Jyoti Ramchandani, Belmont Medical Centre
Year 2 PCH Community Collaboration Project Prize
Understanding the health experiences, priorities and perspectives of black and ethnic minority groups at Golborne Medical Centre
Fayowa Adesomoju, Evan Davidson, Catherine James, Vaasahi Rubakumar
Dr Yasmin Razak, Golborne Medical West10GPs
Year 3 MICA Community Action Project Prize
Supporting low-income patients to access food services in primary care
Shivani Dave and Raaga Devabaktuni
Dr Caroline Jewels, Sands End Health Clinic
Year 5 GPPHC Patient Project Prize
Safer steps to independence for Mr X
Daniele Cotton
Dr Josh Tognarelli, Richford Gate Medical Practice
Year 6 GPSA Quality Improvement Project Prize
Assessing factors that influence uptake of the “NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme” (NDPP) at the Willows Medical Practice
Katerina Loupasaki and Haram Saouri
Dr Dania Shoeb, The Willows Medical Practice
Teacher awards
Teaching Excellence Award
Dr Panteleimon Chan, The Lilyville Surgery
Dr Anne Hughes, The Village Practice
Supporting the Student Experience Award
Brook Green Medical Centre
Plas Menai Health Centre
The Neaman Practice
Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Award
Dr Sneha Bhatt, Brook Green Medical Centre