Karen Khan,

Professional Lead Midwifery&Reproductive

Biography

After 15 years in clinical practice, I took a secondmentinto higher education with the midwifery team at the University of York. Myclinical background is both general nursing and midwifery. After my secondmentin midwifery education, I decided to continue an academic career and took up apost as a lecturer in midwifery in 2005. I completed an MA in Womens’ Studies atthe University of York and have continued my interest in feminist theory andresearch, applying it to teaching and learning in UG and PG education.

Myacademic career has spanned 15 years and offered a range of opportunities tolead various projects including the use of blended learning on virtual learningplatforms, academic skills development for UG students and the enhancement oftherapeutic communication skills using immersive simulation. I am currentlyco-leading a project designed to build student’s knowledge and understanding ofprofessional responsibilities, patient safety, and collaborative workingthrough an immersive simulation called In the Dock™. My interest in immersivesimulation stems from my work with a research colleague with a specialistinterest in emotional intelligence, and actors trained in communicationeducation. We collaborated for 6 years on the delivery of communicationeducation for student midwives using a bespoke design of immersive learningthrough small peer group simulations.

My current role as Lead Midwife for Education involves arange of responsibilities including supporting the development of our newpre-registration midwifery UG & PG programmes. As a strategic lead formidwifery education, I am a member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)Strategic Reference Group, a national network of LMEs across the UK and theLocal Maternity Systems (LMS) group. As an NMC Visitor, I contribute to thequality assurance and approval of midwifery education across AEIs in the UK. Iam also involved in the quality assurance of educational programmes at both theUniversity and Faculty levels.

My key area of research interest is patient safety withmaternity care. I am currently a part-time Ph.D. student with the University ofBradford. My project will investigate therole of uncertainty in the decision-making process during labour and birth.