, Dr Peter Leadbetter

Dr. Peter Leadbetter is Visiting Professor of Medical Education at the University of Suffolk.

Peter is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine at Edge Hill University. He is programme lead for the Foundation Year to Medicine (a Widening Access initiative) that is underpinned by a philosophy of inclusivity, community engagement, widening participation and social accountability. He has won various awards for his work in widening participation to medicine including the Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) New Leaders Award.

Peter is also a member of numerous committees and organisations nationally that promote and facilitate widening access to HE. He currently chairs the Foundation & Gateway to Medicine Leads group comprising 20 Medical Schools nationally and has been influential in various funded Medical Schools Council (MSC) initiatives (Summer Schools and Careers advisor events) that promote widening participation in medicine and healthcare. He has also been instrumental in the development and validation of a new high-profile national entry route for students from “non-traditional” backgrounds to access medicine (Access to Higher Education Diploma in Medicine: QAA). He is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS).

His teaching, learning and research experience led to Peter taking on a number of roles at Edge Hill University. This includes leading the faculty in preparing for the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and overseeing the Faculty Postgraduate research training. Peter won the Student Union student led teaching awards in both the Lecturer and Personal Tutor category and is currently a teaching mentor for a number of colleagues.

Peter previously worked as a Research fellow at the University of Liverpool (School of Medical Education) where he undertook his PhD (clinical communication). He explored the transfer of medical student’s clinical communication skills from the University setting to patient encounters. He also explored the influence of attachment theory on this process.

Prior to this Peter predominately worked in education with disadvantaged young people and asylum seekers in the UK, the USA, and Australia.