I am the Education Centre Manager and I work with our Directors of Medical Education and the rest of the team to quality assure the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education here in Dumfries.  That’s really just a fancy way of saying that we work hard to ensure NHS D&G delivers the best medical education we can, supporting students, trainees and qualified staff to the best of our abilities.

I have a background in marketing in the private sector and general management in the NHS and almost all of the time I love my job and consider myself very lucky to work with such a great group of people.

When not here, I enjoy spending time with my family and socialising with my friends. As a department we are very keen on good coffee and to continue on the caffeine theme, I have a diet coke addiction!  I’m a bit of a foodie – I like to eat out and am a keen cook.  I love going to listen to live music. Finally, I love dogs, especially Daisy my dalmatian.

I am Fiona Jefford, the Training Programme Director for GP training in Dumfries and Galloway. Having completed my GP training in D&G in 2002, I can vouch that it is a fantastic place to train.

For most of my week I am a GP in Lochmaben, spending 2 sessions per week of it in this post. The main role is to coordinate and oversee the training of GPSTs, whilst in hospital and in their GP practices.

We have a comprehensive induction process, followed by a day release educational programme, which is reviewed and adapted every year according to feedback from trainees.

I am the Board’s Medical Illustrator and have been with the Education Centre since 1995.  My role includes Graphic Design (production of posters, leaflets, forms, presentations, etc.) and Audio-Visual support within the Education Centre.
I am also a part-time Conflict Management Instructor for the Board.

I’m a professional member of the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) and a Registered Medical Illustrator with the Academy for Healthcare Science.  In addition, I currently hold the position of Chairman of the Scottish Board of IMI.

Outside of work my interests are quite wide and varied.  I’m a keen photographer, favouring landscapes over other subjects and am a lifelong fan of Queen of the South FC.

As Medical Education Coordinator for Foundation and ScotGEM I am responsible for the on-going administration of the Foundation Year 1&2 Doctor Programmes, to ensure that those objectives are carried out efficiently, effectively and within nationally agreed deadlines.  I am also responsible for coordinating the ScotGEM (Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine) student placements within NHS Dumfries & Galloway, contributing to a high quality placement for students both prior to their arrival and during their placement blocks.

What I really like about my role is I get to meet and support interesting new people, whilst working within a great team.  Each day here at the Centre is different, challenging and best of all – fun.

Away from work I love spending time with our very spoilt dog Penny (who thinks she is a cat) and our rare pigs Treacle and Coco.  I have a healthy obsession for all things pre-loved and delight in everything Dolly Parton “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try”.

As User Support Librarian my main function is providing advice and training, either on an individual or group basis, in ways to access appropriate literature.  There is SO much information out there nowadays, especially online, and it can seem very daunting unless you know where to look.  I am also able to provide help with literature searches.  I only work part-time, but my hours are flexible so arranging to meet should not be too difficult.

I have previously worked in HE, FE and public libraries, and also been a lecturer/tutor in the FE, prison, and community education sectors and the Open University.

Outside of work my main interest is music, especially singing – everything from Renaissance polyphony to 21st century musicals.  I also love my dogs, going for long walks, cooking and curling up with a good book.