Samantha Paterson
Lecturer in Paramedic Science
Department of Physiotherapy and Paramedicine
Samantha Paterson is the Professional Lead for Paramedicine and Deputy Head of Department for Physiotherapy and Paramedicine in the School of Health and Life Sciences. Sam came from the Scottish Ambulance Service Education and Professional Development Department to develop and lead the first full-time undergraduate degree in Paramedic Science in Scotland at GCU in January 2017, becoming Professional Lead for Paramedicine in 2021 and Deputy Head of Department in 2022.
Sam’s master's research focused on the acquisition of professional behaviours and transition to practice, investigating the impact of the education route on the development of professionalism.
Over the last three years, Sam’s work has focussed on the development of creative and innovative practice-based learning for paramedics. Her work with the Scottish Collaboration of Paramedic Education (SCoPE) group has led to the development of a National Practice Assessment Document for all Scottish paramedic science programmes.
More recently, this work has been adopted by the College of Paramedics and will be the basis of a portfolio of practice-based learning being rolled out to all 48 higher education institutes delivering undergraduate paramedic education in the UK. Information on the development of this has been published in the Journal of Paramedic Practice.
Sam’s current doctoral work focuses on the development of a curriculum framework for practice-based learning in paramedicine and seeks to widen learning opportunities and capacity in this area of education.
Sam also teaches evidence-based practice, paramedic clinical skills and assessment, and preparation for practice.
Research Interests: Practice education, professionalism and transition to practice