- The University of Sheffield is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Patients as Educators initiative that places real patients at the heart of medical education
- Launched in 2004, the scheme has grown to be the largest of its kind and has had a profound impact on hundreds of students and patients across South Yorkshire
- The programme provides a crucial step for aspiring healthcare professionals, allowing them to develop essential clinical and communication skills in a safe, simulated environment
The Patients as Educators scheme gives students studying Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Orthoptics and Pharmacy an invaluable head start in their careers by providing hands-on experience and crucial patient interaction from the very beginning of their studies.
Launched in 2004, the scheme has grown to be the largest of its kind with over 800 dedicated patient volunteers helping hundreds of students develop essential clinical and communication skills in a safe stimulated environment.
Through dedicated sessions, students learn directly from patients about their conditions and lived experiences. This invaluable insight helps them understand the physical, emotional, and social impacts of illness in a way that can't be taught from a textbook.
This hands-on, patient-centred approach ensures that students not only gain the required medical knowledge but also cultivate the empathy and respect necessary to become compassionate and effective clinicians.
Martin Fairchild- Hague, Clinical Skills and Patients as Educators Manager at the University of Sheffield, said: “The Patients as Educators programme is a testament to the University of Sheffield's commitment to delivering a truly exceptional and forward-thinking medical education. It is an extraordinary opportunity that sets our graduates apart.
“The benefits of the programme are not limited to students. Patients who participate feel a great sense of purpose and empowerment by actively contributing to the education of the next generation of doctors. By sharing their unique stories, they help shape future healthcare providers and improve the healthcare system as a whole.”
The programme's strength lies in its practical approach and the honest feedback it fosters. Students practice essential skills like taking readings and patient history, receiving direct, constructive feedback from the volunteers.
Maddie, a final year medical student at the University of Sheffield, said: “I think Patients as Educators is really special. It really sets you up for life on the wards and for going into clinical placements later on in your studies.”
Willow, a second year nursing student at the University of Sheffield, said: “Patient as Educators was one of the reasons I chose to study here at Sheffield. I thought it was a really good idea and I didn’t see it offered anywhere else.
“A typical session would be us introducing ourselves to the patient, sitting down with them and taking a full set of observations and whilst we are taking the readings we would be chatting with the patients to get to know their medical history.
“The patients would then feed back to us about what they thought was good and what wasn’t so good and needed improving.”
The experience can also be rewarding for the dedicated volunteers, many of whom have made new friendships with fellow patients and enjoy watching students progress through their studies.
Gary Chamberlain, 62, from Sheffield lives with diabetes and chronic pain.
He said: “For me it is a chance to give something back to our NHS. It is so rewarding getting to see the students develop.
“I’ve also met so many great people through the scheme, including some with similar conditions. We get to have a good chat and share our experiences which is really beneficial as living with chronic conditions can be isolating.”
To find out more about starting your health career at the University of Sheffield please visit our Study Health at Sheffield hub.
Learn more about volunteering for the Patients as Educators scheme here.