Dr Samuel Birks

BSc, MBBS, PGCME, MSc, SFHEA, MRCEM

School of Medicine and Population Health

University Teacher in Medical Education

s.birks@sheffield.ac.uk

Profile

For enquiries please contact - SMPH-West-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk

After graduating from the Hull-York Medical School in 2016 with an intercalated degree in Clinical Anatomy from the University of Leeds, I joined the University of Sheffield during my academic foundation programme.

I completed a PGCME and subsequently an MSc in Health Professions Education alongside my clinical training in emergency medicine. I now divide my time between working clinically as an A&E registrar and academically within the Division of Clinical Medicine as a University Teacher.

I regularly teach undergraduate students in various settings including lectures, small-groups, practical sessions, simulation, and clinical skills. My primary teaching focus is on anatomical education where I have led the implementation of a significant radiological component and the introduction of ultrasonographic anatomy. I also contribute to assessment practices including blueprinting, question writing, standard-setting and quality-assuring summative examinations. A large part of my role extends to research and development of digital learning across the MBChB including the use of generative artificial intelligence and digital anatomy education.

Publications

Journal articles

Lim JJ, Birks S & Roberts C (2024) How to … navigate specialised programmes for early‐career doctors in medical education. The Clinical Teacher, 21(6). View this article in WRRO
Birks S & Peart L (2021) Pott’s Puffy Tumour: a rare but sinister cause of facial swelling. Acute Medicine Journal, 20(2), 144-147.
George J, Peirson M, Birks S & Skinner P (2018) Managing a Colonoscopic Perforation in a Patient with No Abdominal Wall. Case Reports in Surgery, 2018, 1-4.
Dunne H, Abouabdallah M, Roscamp J, Birks S, Mcgibbon K, Dewhurst S, Strachan D & Sharma R () Exploring knowledge of first aid in epistaxis—25 years on. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0315092-e0315092.
Birks S, Gray J & Darling-Pomranz C () Using artificial intelligence to provide a ‘flipped assessment’ approach to medical education learning opportunities. Medical Teacher, 1-8.

Conference proceedings papers

George J, Whitfield A, Cox V, Birks S, Payne A & Al-Mukhtar A (2018) Surgical foundation year one doctor experience of do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation orders; A comparison between a district general hospital and tertiary centre. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Vol. 105 (pp 131-131)
George J, Cox V, Birks S & Payne A (2018) Medical and surgical foundation year one doctor experiences of do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation orders in a district general hospital. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Vol. 105 (pp 131-131)
George J, Whitfeld A, Cox V, Birks S, Payne A & Al-Mukhtar A (2018) How prepared are surgical foundation year one doctors to deal with end of life care; A comparison between a district general hospital and tertiary centre. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Vol. 105 (pp 131-131)
George J, Cox V, Birks S & Payne A (2018) How prepared are medical and surgical foundation year one doctors in a district general hospital to deal with end of life care?. BRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Vol. 105 (pp 131-132)

Teaching interests

Anatomy and radiology
Clinical and case-based learning
Digital and technology-enhanced learning
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI)
Digital learning resources for anatomy education