Staff Profile

Introduction

Paul took up the role of Head of the School of Medicine in April 2024. The School has a long and proud history of delivering innovative health professional education and research, working closely with NHS partners. Since 2018 Paul has led the medical degree as Director of Medical Studies, having previously led the admissions process.

He is Professor of Education and Palliative Care and his academic interests are around decision making, both from a clinical and educational perspective. This particularly focusses on end of life decision making: ethics, anticipatory planning and managing complexity. Educational research is focussed on the development of skills of clinical judgement. He has contributed to several international books in these areas.

Paul obtained his medical degree from Newcastle University before studying for Masters degrees at Kings College London and Dundee University before returning to Newcastle University to complete his doctorate. After initial training in the north east, he carried out his specialty training in Oxford before returning to the north east in 2005 as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine. He continues to enjoy a busy clinical role at Northumbria Healthcare Trust where he was Associate Medical Director until 2025.

Paul has been elected as Vice President of the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland from 2025-27 before becoming President 2027-29.

Qualifications

• 1997 MB BS, Newcastle University
• 2000 MRCP
• 2004 MSc, Kings College London
• 2006 MMEd, Dundee University
• 2009 FRCP
• 2016 EdD, Newcastle University
• 2017 Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy

Paul teaches in years 3-5 of the MBBS programme in the fields of communication, ethics and palliative care.

Research interests are around decision making, both from a clinical and educational perspective. This particularly focusses clinically on long term conditions and end of life decision making: ethics, anticipatory planning and managing complexity.

Educational research is focussed on the development of skills of clinical judgement and curriculum innovations.

He supervises clinical and educational doctoral projects.

• Articles

  • Fisher J, Foggin J, Paes P. Provision of early clinical experience in UK medical schools: a cross-sectional survey. Education for Primary Care 2024, epub ahead of print.
  • Dodsworth A, Alberti H, Hirsh DA, Paes P, Illing J. Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships, empathy and patient centredness: A prospective cohort study. Medical Teacher 2024, E-pub ahead of print.
  • Osbourne F, Paes P, Ellis J, Rothwell C. Twelve tips for conducting medical education research via videoconference. Medical Teacher 2023, 45(2), 145-151.
  • Dodsworth A, Munro K, Alberti H, Hirsh DA, Paes P, Illing J. Patient outcomes in a Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship: A systematic literature review. Medical Education 2023, 57(9), 820-832.
  • Dodsworth A, Hirsh DA, Alberti H, Paes P, Illing J. A remedy for discontinuity? Advocating for patient advocacy in undergraduate medical education. Medical Education 2023, 57(7), 600-603.
  • Churm D, Dickinson C, Robinson L, Paes P, Cronin T, Walker R. How Do Patients With Parkinson’s Disease Approach Advance Care Planning? A UK-Based Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology 2022, 35(1), 168-175.
  • Standing H, Thomson R, Flynn D, Hughes J, Joyce K, Lobban T, Lord S, Matlock D, McComb J, Paes P, Wilkinson C, Exley C. 'You can’t start a car when there’s no petrol left': A qualitative study of patient, family, and clinician perspectives on implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation. BMJ Open 2021, 11(7), e048024.
  • Paes P. Practical Wisdom, a dormant character in medical education?. Medical Education 2019, 53(5), 428-429.
  • Paes P, Leat D, Stewart J. Complex decision making in medical training: key internal and external influences in developing practical wisdom. Medical Education 2019, 53(2), 165-174.
  • MacCormick FMA, Emmett C, Paes P, Hughes JC. Resuscitation decisions at the end of life: Medical views and the juridification of practice. Journal of Medical Ethics 2018, 44(6), 376-383.
  • Walker S, Gibbins J, Paes P, Barclay S, Adams A, Chandratilake M, Gishen F, Lodge P, Wee B. Preparing future doctors for palliative care: views of course organisers. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2018, 8(3), 299-306.
  • Walker S, Gibbins J, Paes P, Adams A, Chandratilake M, Gishen F, Lodge P, Wee B, Barclay S. Palliative care education for medical students: Differences in course evolution, organisation, evaluation and funding: A survey of all UK medical schools. Palliative Medicine 2017, 31(6), 575-581.
  • Walker S, Gibbins J, Barclay S, Adams A, Paes P, Chandratilake M, Gishen F, Lodge P, Wee B. Progress and divergence in palliative care education for medical students: A comparative survey of UK course structure, content, delivery, contact with patients and assessment of learning. Palliative Medicine 2016, 30(9), 834-842.
  • Grogan E, Paes P, Peel T. Excellence in cost-effective inpatient specialist palliative care in the NHS- a new model. Clinical Medicine 2016, 16(1), 7-11.
  • Standing H, Exley C, Flynn D, Hughes J, Joyce K, Lobban T, Lord S, Matlock D, McComb JM, Paes P, Thomson RG. A qualitative study of decision-making about the implantation of cardioverter defibrillators and deactivation during end-of-life care. Health Services and Delivery Research 2016, 4(32).
  • Paes P, Wee B. A Delphi study to develop the Association for Palliative Medicine consensus syllabus for undergraduate palliative medicine in Great Britain and Ireland. Palliative Medicine 2008, 22(4), 360-364.
  • Paes P. A pilot study to assess the effectiveness of a palliative care clinic in improving the quality of life for patients with severe heart failure. Palliative Medicine 2005, 19(6), 505-506. In Preparation.

• Book Chapter

  • Paes P, Grogan E. End of life care. In: Integrated Palliative Care of Respiratory Disease. Springer-Verlag London Ltd, 2013, pp.209-234.

• Edited Book

  • Twycross R, Wilcock A, Barclay S, Charlesworth S, Hamlyn S, Keeling S, Knights D, Howard P, Lawrie I, Paes P, Stockley A, Toller C, Ward J, Wilkins P, ed. Introducing Palliative Care. Nottingham, UK: Palliativedrugs.com Ltd, 2016.

• Report

  • Robinson L, Poole M, McLellan E, Lee R, Amador S, Bhattarai N, Bryant A, Coe D, Corbett A, Exley C, Goodman C, Gotts Z, Harrison-Dening K, Hill S, Howel D, Hrisos S, Hughes J, Kernohan A, Macdonald A, Mason H, Massey C, Neves S, Paes P, Rennie K, Rice S, Robinson T, Sampson E, Tucker S, Tzelis D, Vale L, Bamford C. Supporting good quality, community-based end-of-life care for people living with dementia: the SEED research programme including feasibility RCT. National Institute for Health Research, 2020. 8.

• Review

  • Dewhurst F, Stow D, Paes P, Frew K, Hanratty B. Clinical frailty and performance scale translation in palliative care: Scoping review. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2022, 12(3), 270-281.