Hello

Hello and welcome MRCPCH Speciality Courses. My name is Umar and I am a Paediatric Cardiologist with a passion for teaching and training. 

My journey into medical education started as a second year medical student at Barts and the London. I developed MESS (Medical Education Support System), an extensive peer to peer teaching programme for first year medical students. Every week, I planned and delivered lectures in the evening and provided clinical skills teaching in the summer term. Following its excellent turn out, I grew the project and recruited other medical students to teach and organised a medical school within a medical school. This gave people opportunities to gain early experience in teaching, management and leadership. 

Doing MESS for five years taught me alot about teaching and mentoring people. After completing my foundation programme I went on to become a Teaching Fellow in the West Midlands. Over 12 months, I was responsible for clinical medical students in the hospital and gained a lot of insight in bedside teaching, simulation training and finding ways to help medical students become more integrated in their clinical posts. 

I entered Paediatric training in 2012 and trained in the East of England deanery until ST6. My enthusiasm for education excelled. I did the usual educational activities like most doctors. I eagerly taught medical students and was involved in departmental teaching but I was always keen to do more. Therefore, I got more involved with the deanery. I started to organise the regional training days for ST1-3 trainees and started to develop a catalogue of educational podcasts. However, my biggest educational achievement during my time as a paediatric trainee was to complete a Diploma and MSc in Medical Education at UCL. 

In 2017, I became a Paediatric Cardiology trainee in the East Midlands and completed my training in January 2023. During my five year training, despite the challenges that subspecialty training brings along with raising a family I continued to develop as an educator. I developed a nursing programme to help new recruits become more familiar with children with congenital cardiac conditions. Over the years of its development, it evolved from weekly lectures to a comprehensive three day course which covers each aspect of nursing care on the ward. I mentored a number of PECSIG trainees, SHOs and new recruits whilst on the ward to help them become efficient in echocardiography and managing acute scenarios. I also mentored my SHOs, helping them to develop their CVs towards subspeciality training. Additionally, I lectured regularly at the Leicester Medical School and managed medical students on the ward.     

As you can see, I love to teach, mentor and help others reach their potential. Therefore, I decided to set up MRCPCH Speciality Courses. I design my courses with you in mind. What will benefit you either with your day job or your future ambitions. With my courses and coaching sessions you get me, my experience, my proven track record and my commitment to you. I do not rely on pre recorded material or others to design my courses. I deliver my sessions with a personal touch and take great care that you get a positive educational experience.  

I hope to meet you soon on one of my services. 

Umar