Chair SHE International League of Alumni (SHEILA)
"Some of you may already know me as one of the two Dutch lecturers in Occupational Therapy of the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) 2004-2007 group. After finishing the MHPE I started wondering how to participate in further development of health profession education, in my own work situation as well as in a broader context. Enjoying the intercultural and intercontinental inspiring contacts during the MHPE triggered the idea that a more active role within SHEILA is something I would like to put my energy into. I'm therefore very grateful that the SHE staff expressed their confidence in me to be the first SHEILA chair. I hope to contribute to this developing network. I also do hope that you will offer me the opportunity to act as your representative in discussions around alumni activities."
"We work so far away from each other that we can speak of a global alumni group; our work situations cover a cultural and professional diversity. But we all know that exchange, sharing ideas and discussions on health professions education supports all of us as educators. We all want to improve health care by research-based health professions education. Triggered by new evidence on educational concepts, we are searching for ways to implement educational innovations. SHEILA will facilitate continuing exchange of research findings, experiences and ideas, providing ongoing support in our efforts to implement innovations. SHEILA can also support new starters within the MHPE and other SHE programmes. I therefore warmly welcome the efforts undertaken by the SHE staff to create SHEILA as a new way to promote health professions education development."
What remains at the end of this introduction is to express the wish that we together will build an interactive SHEILA that will be a supportive instrument to all of us health profession educators.
