I am a nurse, healthcare educationalist, researcher and social scientist who has worked in medical, nursing, health, and social care education for over 25 years. Currently I am a Lecturer in Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh and the Theme Lead for personal and professional development within the undergraduate medical programme. I am interested in the Sociology of medicine and health professions, particularly the education, development and wellbeing of the medical, health and social care workforce and how we can integrate compassion into innovative curricula to transform society. I am also an associate of the Edinburgh Global Compassion Initiative whose purpose is to enable and embed the evidence and practice of compassion within the University, in Scotland and across and the world. In this role I work with Global partners to develop programmes of work, share new strategies on compassionate engagement and learn from global and local experiences of how other communities practice compassion.
In addition, I am the founder and director of a literary salon, The Compassion Salon, in Edinburgh to create a community around new and established authors and poets whose work relates to compassion and wellbeing. This is a place for people to connect, inspire and support using books and prose as a means through which to consider the various aspects of human existence in an increasingly fragmented and challenging global community.
Dr Martina Balaam
PhD MSc PgC Prof Ed Ba (Hons) RGN RNT FHEA FRSA
Lecturer
Nursing Studies
Theme Lead (PPD)
Fellow in Medical Education
Edinburgh Medical School
The University of Edinburgh
https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/doctor-martina-balaam
Twitter: @DrMartiBalaam
Associate: University of Edinburgh Global Compassion initiative
https://www.ed.ac.uk/global-health/global-compassion-initiative
Director: The Compassion salon
Twitter: @saloncompassion
