As a GP, you have the opportunity to shape our future primary care workforce. Becoming an educator allows you to guide and equip aspiring GPs and primary care healthcare professionals with the skills and confidence to shape the future of primary care.
Why become a GP educator?
As healthcare transforms to bring care closer to communities, your expertise is essential in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals for this evolving landscape. Step into this rewarding training role and leave a lasting impact on both your trainees and the care they provide.
Education offers GPs a rewarding way to diversify your career while maintaining clinical practice. It keeps your work varied and intellectually stimulating, allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills in different ways.
With you leading the way, multidisciplinary teams can realise their potential too. You'll be part of the significant firsts and milestones in someone else's learning journey whilst advancing your own career and actively participating in the transformation that will improve patient care.
GP educator Dr Fatima Houghton was inspired to follow in her educator’s footsteps and become an GP educator herself:
"I love being a GP and I wanted to share that enthusiasm and love of the job to other doctors. I wanted to train a workforce that I would be happy for my family, my friends to see, knowing they were up to date and would consider the importance of lifelong learning beyond the resident doctor years”.
The benefits for you as an educator
Your role as an educator directly contributes to delivering better, more accessible healthcare in local communities. You'll help prepare professionals who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our growing and ageing population, strengthening the care provided closer to where people live.
You are needed now more than ever to shape the future of primary care.
Becoming a GP educator brings personal and professional rewards:
- the satisfaction of helping GP registrars develop into fully qualified GPs
- excellent peer support from local trainers' groups and networks
- the opportunity to develop as an educator and enhance your own skills
To find out how to begin your journey as a GP educator in the West Midlands, visit our GP educator approval process webpage.
Hear from GP educators
Interested in becoming a GP educator but want to know more about how it works in practice? Read primary care educator case studies to discover the benefits for you, your service and patients, and see where the role could take your career.
Where will I work as a GP educator?
GP Educators are based in their own practice and will be allocated resident doctors (GP registrars) usually from one vocational training scheme. While education and teaching has traditionally taken place in local postgraduate centres, programmes are increasingly using community-based venues to reflect the strong community focus of GP training.
A key part of our approach is cluster-based learning. Resident doctors come together in small groups of around 15 to 20 within local training practices. These sessions give trainees protected time to share experiences, learn from peers, and build confidence in a supportive environment.
Outside of normal VTS term time resident doctors will cluster in groups and self-facilitate their educational time. This varies depending on locality. Please speak to your training programme director for guidance.
GP training programme areas
Click on the links below to find out more about the five GP training programmes in the West Midlands:
Further information on the GP educator role primary care approved learning environments in the West Midlands.
Find out more about becoming an approved learning environment, your local training hub details, and the GP educator role in the West Midlands, click on our pages below: