A Master's student smiling in the Fleming Library at Imperial's St Mary's Campus

Remote learning for Paediatrics and Child Health | Asfiya Naveed

Asfiya Naveed, a physiotherapist from Pakistan, discusses the advantages of remote learning for the Paediatrics and Child Health PG Dip / MSc course

The postgraduate offering from the Centre is broad-ranging to provide inclusivity, diversity and accessibility to those studying, working and teaching in the field of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Imperial College London has a long history of collaborative working and supporting professional development. The aim of the postgraduate education arm of the Centre is therefore to provide a central umbrella under which access to Paediatric education across the College and affiliated NHS clinical institutions can be brought together. The educational offering will encompass academic qualifications and local clinical and academic education sessions. This includes the Applied Paediatrics (PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc) postgraduate course grounded in a spiral curriculum of critical evaluation, early life programming and the assessment and management of illness in children at both individual and population level, thus tackling complex real-world problems. Course modules are underpinned by the principles of the ‘application of science to paediatric clinical practice’ using Tom Lissauer’s ‘The Science of Paediatrics: MRCPCH Mastercourse’ as a course textbook. This part-time programme adopts an active learning strategy, such as interactive question and answer elements and sharing individual experiences. The Master’s dissertation project will afford rigorous academic training in research methods, culminating in an MSc thesis whilst also nurturing those with aptitude, providing a stepping stone to future research and partnerships.

Certified paediatric short courses developed by the postgraduate faculty (Imperial College and NHS clinicians) are also offered via the College's Continuing Professional Development hub. Additionally, timetables and information about how to access non-certified courses, for example, Professor Sudhin Thayyil and Professor Seetha Shankaran’s ‘Neurological examination for eligibility for hypothermia therapy’, will be signposted through our website.

The Centre collaborates with the affiliated clinical institutions to provide details of our numerous open and limited access online teaching, lectures, Journal Clubs and Grand Rounds. Together with open access embedded micro-lectures, taster lectures and guest webinars, we hope the postgraduate education theme will inspire current and future health professionals as well as encourage education innovation, foster relationships and further develop a sense of a local paediatric community with a global reach.

Priorities and leadership

Key priorities


  • Strengthening individually relevant and flexible learning opportunities for the multidisciplinary workforce within Paediatrics and Child Health.
  • Engaging clinical and academic educators and students to build and develop a community focused on advancing knowledge and practice in Paediatrics and Child health.
  • Expanding the MSc programme to provide innovative online education relevant to child health today and for the future by focusing on a spiral curriculum of healthy development, health promotion and management of common childhood diseases.
  • Expanding opportunities for interested paediatric practitioners to be involved in clinical research relating to paediatrics and child health. 

Postgraduate Education Lead


Dr Deena-Shefali Patel
Honorary Lecturer and Consultant Neonatologist

Deena-Shefali Patel is an Honorary Lecturer and the Lead for the Applied Paediatrics (PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc) at Imperial. She is a Consultant Neonatologist at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. She holds an MD (res) following research based on neonatal ventilation and a PG Cert. in Healthcare Ethics and Law. Her vision for the postgraduate offering is to encourage recognition, collaboration, and innovation within education. She hopes that as a community of educators we can inspire future generations of Paediatric practitioners to take on the challenge of advancing Paediatric health promotion and healthcare.

Postgraduate Education team

  • Heather Hanna

    Heather Hanna

    Personal details

    Heather Hanna Clinical Teaching Fellow

    +44 (0)20 7594 7214

    Bio

    Heather is an experienced Paediatric Nurse with specific experience in Neonatal Intensive Care , Allergy and Research. She is dually qualified as a Registered General Nurse and a Registered Sick Children's Nurse and holds a BSc from the Open University and an MSc in Allergy (hons) from Imperial College.

    Location

    250, 2nd Floor, Medical School, St Mary's Campus

  • Dr Deena-Shefali Patel

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    Personal details

    Dr Deena-Shefali Patel Honorary Lecturer and Course Director for Applied Paediatrics (PG Cert, PG Dip, MSc)

    Bio

    Deena-Shefali Patel is an Honorary Lecturer and the Lead for the  Applied Paediatrics programme  at Imperial College London. she is a Consultant Neonatologist at the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.

    Location

    Norfolk Place, St Mary's Campus