Dr Kirstin Stuart James (ProfD, BSc (Hons), Dip OT LHMC, PGCert TLHE, PGCert BIR, HEA Senior Fellow)
Deputy Programme Director, Edinburgh Surgery Online

- Clinical Sciences Teaching Organisation
- Edinburgh Surgery Online
- MSc Surgical Sciences MSc Patient Safety and Human Clinical Factors (Secondment)
Contact details
- Tel: Please use email
- Email: k.james@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Surgery OnlineRoom G10/G11
Simon Laurie House
196 Canongate - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
Background
I am Deputy Programme Director (secondment) for Year 3 of two contemporary postgraduate programmes within Edinburgh Surgery Online: MSc Surgical Sciences and MSc Patient Safety and Human Clinical Factors. I advance the development of pedagogical approaches in both global, online programmes. I am especially involved in research courses in both programmes where I support students to take forwards dissertation and evidence-based projects in a breadth of topics and methods. Students enrol in the programmes from a wide background of health and social care professions including nurses, surgeons, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and allied health professionals, including paramedics. I am particularly interested in inclusive methods of teaching and have developed curricula to address barriers to completion of MSc from a global perspective.
Qualifications
Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Post-Graduate Diploma, Occupational Therapy, London Hopsital Medcial College.
BSC (Hons), Biological Science, Warwick University
PGCert, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, University of the West of Scotland.
PGCert, Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Queen Margaret University.
Senior Fellow, Advance HE
Responsibilities & affiliations
HCPC Registered Practicing Occupational Therapist
Member: Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Member: World Federation of Occupational Therapists
Postgraduate teaching
Senior Academic Co-ordinator
MSc Clinical Education
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
My research interests in education are in creative approaches to clinical education, use of the arts within the curriculum to support student experience and well-being, and digital education. In clinical practice my research interests are in Urgent and Emergency Care, and the pain experience for people living with dementia.
Current research interests
Creative approaches to clinical education. Occupational therapy interventions in Emergency Departments.Past research interests
Please see my ORCID profileAffiliated research centres
Conference details
The future of sight-loss education in occupational therapy: a qualitative study Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference 2021-06-01 | conference-poster
Integrating education for Allied Health Professionals and Social Work to meet the health and social care needs for tomorrow's Scottish population Occupational Therapy Australia 28th Conference & Exhibition 2019-07-01 | conference-paper
Development of an Integrated Curriculum for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work Students in Scotland World Confederation for Physical Therapy 2019-05-01 | conference-paper
Embedding a culture of kindness in the University curriculum Learning 2019-01-06 | other
Making integrated Health and Social Care education a reality: A Scottish example 24th ENOTHE Annual Meeting 2018-09-01 | conference-paper
Emergency departments and occupational therapy: integration, unscheduled care and over-crowdingInternational Journal of Integrated Care 2017-07-01 | conference-paper
Exploring visiting times as a way to enhance meaningful activity participation: A collaborative research project 2017-06-01 | conference-paper
Promoting excellence in dementia care and support National Conference 2016-01-01 | conference-paper 2016
Occupational enrichment: a role for occupation in pain recognition, assessment and management for people with dementia in hospital settings British Pain Society Annual Scientific meeting 2015-04-01 | conference-paper
The detection and management of pain in patients with dementia in acute-care settings: development of a decision support tool 2015-03-27 | conference-paper
An exploration of the lived experience of occupational therapists in Accident and Emergency Departments in Scotland – All of life is here 16th International Conference of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists 2014-06-01 | conference-paper
The detection and mangement of pain in patients with dementia in acute care settings: development of a decision support tool SPaRC Conference 2014-03-01 | conference-paper
Occupational therapists lived experiences of working in accident and Emergency Departments in Scotland Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference 2013-06-01 | conference-paper
Occupational therapists' lived experiences of working in Accident And Emergency Departments In Scotland Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference 2012-06-01 | conference-paper
Screening by occupational therapists: A Pro-Active screening audit NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Edinburgh 2010-06-01 | conference-poster
Invited speaker
West Virginia University: Morgantown, West Virginia, US2021-04-01 to 2021-04-01 | Invited Speaker (Occupational Therapy)
Glasgow Caledonian University: Glasgow, Glasgow, GB
2021-03-01 to 2021-03-01 | Invited Speaker (Occupational Therapy Society
Organiser
Universiteit Maastricht: Maastricht, Limburg, NL2016-06-01 to 2016-06-01 | Conference Symposium Organiser: Collaboration, University of Maastricht. Gerontology and Gerontologists Conference in Dublin, 2016. Pain Management and Dementia. (Education)
In the press
Royal College of Occupational Therapists Ltd: London, London, GB
2021-09-01 to present | OTNews Editorial Advisory Group – Volunteer Member Representative for Scotland (OTNews Publication)
My clinical expertise relates to people living with dementia, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological diagnoses, and those at risk of falls and reduced bone health. I translate this knowledge to contribute to creative, effective, post-graduate education. Prior to my role at University of Edinburgh, I was Foundational Programme Lead for the MSc (Pre-registration) Occupational Therapy at Edinburgh Napier University where I wrote, designed, and established the first new programme of occupational therapy education in Scotland for over 40 years. In addition to my role at University of Edinburgh, I can be found working in my 'blues' in a busy, local Emergency Department. I was awarded the Covid 19 Award for contribution to clinical services during the Covid 19 pandemic.