The division of Graduate Medical Education is thrilled to welcome Louise Jones, PhD, MEd, as the Director of GME Research & Scholarly Activity. Originally from Scotland, Dr. Jones aptly describes herself as a “constructive disruptor” with a drive to change research from inaccessible to accessible, and from forgettable to impactful.
Dr. Jones holds a doctorate of philosophy in higher education with a focus on medical education and a master’s in educational leadership from Mercer University. She completed her undergraduate studies in Glasgow, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy in 1988. Her biggest reward comes from mentoring medical educators, residents, and medical students through the various challenges of scholarship. Her goal? To leverage her skills and the resources of Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s (NGMC) GME department to support the growing interest in scholarship and academic medicine, and to assist the physician scholars in building their own personal voice in the academic communities available to us.
“Seeing these individuals and teams gain influence and start to impact national practices is invigorating and inspiring,” says Dr. Jones.
Over the years, Dr. Jones has chaired various committees, served on many others at both institutional and national levels, and championed events focused on expanding human knowledge and tolerance. Currently, in addition to internal committees and groups, she serves on the Brenau IRB committee and as a peer reviewer for a range of national and international medical education publications.
Her primary research interests center around physician diversity and the physician workforce, which she investigates through the lens of medical education and the physician pipeline. This passion for maximizing opportunities and support for a diverse array of physicians was ignited while working in London. Dr. Jones observed the impact of having a physician “like me” and how a child and his family responded to the multidisciplinary care provided, just as much as wealth and education.
Dr. Jones is currently working on a collaborative study investigating the physician pipeline in Georgia with the GBHW, as well as designing a medical education registry for ongoing medical education research studies.
Welcome, Dr. Jones!