Published: 03 August 2023
Congratulations to Katie Pavoni and Professor Jonathan Round, who have both been selected to receive one of only 55 prestigious National Teaching Fellowships this year by Advance HE. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme celebrates and recognises individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession in higher education.
Katie Pavoni
Katie Pavoni is an Associate Professor and the BSc Paramedic Course Director and Pastoral Lead. In her clinical work she is a paramedic and mental health practitioner for South East Coast Ambulance Service.
Speaking about receiving the award Katie said, "I was extremely grateful and proud to have been nominated by St George’s for the National Teaching Fellowship. Throughout the intensive application process, I was acutely aware of the inspirational standard of previous winners, so when I was awarded, I felt immensely honoured, but genuinely surprised!
“I cannot thank Saranne Weller, Sally Mitchell and Jane Saffell enough for their support, generosity, encouragement and guidance throughout the process.”
Challenging stigma with compassion
Katie received the National Teaching Fellowship for her work in mental health and wellbeing in paramedicine, which has been the central focus of her leadership, scholarly, educational and clinical activity.
Speaking about this work Katie said: “For paramedics and student paramedics recognition and support for mental health is imperative due to the multifaceted psychological risks present within our challenging and often emotive working environments. Furthermore, as a significant proportion of all ambulance calls relate to mental health, it is crucial that paramedics are equipped to respond with empathy, knowledge and compassion. However, despite all this, substantial stigma remains in talking about our emotional health.
“I have always been passionate about challenging this stigma, ensuring a parity between mental and physical health for patients and practitioners and adopting a compassionate leadership approach within my practice that recognises the wellbeing challenges that are unique to healthcare students."
- Katie Pavoni, Associate Professor, BSc Paramedic Course Director and Pastoral Lead -
“In 2017 I created the first student paramedic mental health peer support scheme, Student Paramedic Blue Light Champions, which has gained national recognition and is affiliated to Mind Charity. I also designed and implemented a national wellbeing curriculum, and wellbeing reflective tool endorsed by the College of Paramedics. Furthermore, my desire for parity within mental health education led to my creation of the first UK undergraduate paramedic mental health module which has been seen as a blueprint for other higher education institutions.’
A bright future
Further reflecting on receiving the award Katie said: “I am extremely lucky to work as part of an amazing and highly skilled team, who are all so committed to fostering a compassionate community, and one in which students feel heard, supported and valued.
“I am so heartened to see that the importance of mental health for patients and practitioners is being given the recognition it deserves through this award, and although there is a long way to go in the fight to challenge mental health stigma and ensuring equality and empathy, I am confident that the future is bright.”
Professor Jonathan Round
Jonathan Round is a Professor of Practice - Clinical Education and lead for Paediatric Education at St George’s. His clinical work is in Paediatric Intensive Care and Paediatric Cardiology at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Reflecting on the award Jonathan said: “It's probably a cliché to say that I feel honoured, but it is also true. I’m also very grateful for the team at St George’s who encouraged me to apply, helped me see what was particularly distinct about my practice and assisted me in giving a good account of this in my submission. The whole process has been fascinating.”
Jonathan has received the award in recognition of his work within teaching as an educator and leader. Speaking of this he says: “In Paediatrics, my clinical area, I teach and train from the first year of medical school to those about to be consultants. I also teach medical error and patient safety, leadership and management skills at all levels in a range of contexts from local tutorials to international conferences.”
Patient focused teaching
“My teaching practice is all about making learning as relevant and memorable to those I am with. As a clinical academic I have a huge advantage as I can use patient encounters to drive the learning. All my sessions, including lectures, feature patient stories heavily, and then dissect the clinical encounter to bring out whatever the focus of the session is."
- Professor Jonathan Round, Professor of Practice - Clinical Education and lead for Paediatric Education -
“I try to make learning as active as possible, set to the level of the participants and with some simple take-away messages. None of this is that revolutionary but doing it well and consistently is the challenge, especially on MS teams!
“I also have an interest in the rational use of IT in medical learning. Out of this, I developed virtual patients: simple browser-based tools to develop clinical decision making. I have also developed a number of websites involved in paediatric training which has had a global impact.”
Passing on knowledge
Looking back on his time at the University, Jonathan said: “I have been working at St George’s since 2002, and the opportunities I have had to develop in a large number of roles have been instrumental in my professional development.
“I am fortunate to have had so many excellent mentors in my career: Dafydd Walters and Sue Hobbins for recognising that I was a bit different; Phil Lee for teaching me how teaching could be done; Peter McCrorie for giving me space and opportunity; Kathy Boursicot for her clarity in assessment and Terry Poulton for showing me how to make projects happen.
“I hope I am able also to pass on my knowledge, understanding and skills to those following me.”
It is a joy to have such impressive staff at St George’s and I’m sure their success will be an encouragement to future nominees we’ll be as proud to put forward.”
- Professor Jane Saffell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) -
Professor Jane Saffell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at St George’s, said of the new fellows “I am so pleased that the impact Katie and Jonathan have had – both for our students and the wider sector - has been recognised with NTF awards this year. It is a joy to have such impressive staff at St George’s and I’m sure their success will be an encouragement to future nominees we’ll be as proud to put forward.”
Alison Johns, Chief Executive, Advance HE, said, “Congratulations to all of the new National Teaching Fellows and CATE teams on this prestigious accolade which recognises and rewards their commitment to teaching and learning and the impact it has on student success.
“It is with great pride that we run these awards for the UK higher education sector designed to celebrate these passionate people who make such a difference to students’ education and to the practice of their colleagues. We look forward to working with the new NTFs and CATE winners and sharing their excellent practice with colleagues around the sector.”
Katie and Jonathan join four other National Teaching Fellows at St George’s: Professors Emma Baker, Jane Saffell, Kate Tatton-Brown and Dr Andrew Hitchings.
You can find find a full list of this year’s National Teaching Fellows on the Advance HE website.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a St George's nominee for a National Teaching Fellowship award, please contact Dr Saranne Weller in the Centre for Innovation and Development in Education (CIDE).