Chatting with Chris Kowalski

In episode five we chat with Dr Chris Kowalski, a consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, from the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, where he is the simulation lead and is involved in all stages of medical education. Chris chats about his journey into Medical Education and his particular interest in simulation, triggered by witnessing a lack of experiential learning in psychiatry, for instance communication in complex clinical situations, such as mental health crises, and interprofessional collaboration. When reflecting on the intersections between education and research, be pragmatic and strategic in including research in educational designs and activities, such as being clear on the purposes of each but also evaluating said innovations. Chris shares the importance of career planning, dedicated time and maintaining boundaries (while juggling multiple roles and competing demands), and the necessity of working in teams. He ends with a challenge: how can we shift dispositions, values and ways of being, as opposed to merely developing knowledge and skills, in health professionals? You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and see his research at Research Gate.