Dr Kirstin Stuart James
- Senior Lecturer (MVLS Education Hub)
- Academic Lead Postgraduate Online Portfolio (School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing)
email:
Kirstin.James@glasgow.ac.uk
pronouns:
She/her/hers
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015Biography
I am a Senior Lecturer and Director of Online Learning and Teaching in the Graduate School, College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS). In addition, I am Academic Lead for the MVLS Digital Education Unit and a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE. I provide academic leadership for digital education across the College while shaping policy, guiding innovation, and leading the development of institutional tech-fluencies and capabilities to support the University’s ambitions for technologically enhanced learning.
A cross‑disciplinarian by training and practice, my scholarship and teaching are grounded in digital education, digital equity and digital justice. My breadth of work examines how digital infrastructures and pedagogies can both widen and narrow equity in health and education. I lead and contribute to initiatives that advance equitable access to learning for health, using evidence‑informed approaches to influence practice locally, nationally and internationally.
Originally from Edinburgh, my approach to education is shaped by formative experiences growing up in a community now recognised as a ‘left behind’ coastal town. I have been inspired by the transformative impact education has had on my own life. This underpins my belief in the central role of education has in addressing health inequities and informs my design aproach of inclusive, authentic learning spaces and my commitment to the responsible development of applied digital pedagogies.
Alongside my academic role, I am a registered occupational therapist, and after many years working in brain injury and spianl cord injury rehabilitaion wards I now work clinically in Urgent and Emergency Care. I am a member of The Royal College of Occupational Therapists and The World Federation of Occupational Therapists. This clinical perspective enriches my insights by grounding my academic work in the realities of frontline practice and support smy ongoing commitment to professional development in health and social care. Through this academic‑clinical-research lens, I can bring brings a singular perspective to digital transformation and professional development.
Research interests
I first entered academia from clinical practice as Research Assistant on the multi-site, £700, 000+ funded, NIHR research study 'Towards improved decision support in the assessment and management of pain for people with dementia in hospital'. [Award 11/2000/5.]
Now on a 'Learning and Teaching' track, I have personally accrued over £100, 000 in research funding and I continue to apply my research skills to a growing programme of scholarship examining the intersection of digital pedagogies, digital equity and inclusive learning and teaching design. Most recently, my scholarship has explored how digitally mediated learning spaces might create meaningful communities of inquiry across diverse and distributed cohorts, funded through the University’s 'Team of UG Together' initiative. I am also advancing scholarship on pedagogies of choice, examining how flexible, digital pathways can better accommodate the varied needs and contexts of health professions learners in collaboration with and funded by University of Edinburgh.
Drawing on more than three decades of clinical experience, I am developing a holistic wellbeing pedagogical framework that integrates theories of occupational science with educational practice. This emerging body of work offers a novel theoretical contribution and provides a practical model for supporting faculty and learner wellbeing. Together, these projects take forward research that shapes equitable, human‑centred approaches to digital learning.
Research groups
Publications
2026
James, Kirstin Stuart 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, King, Michael and Crow, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757
(2026)
Scholarship in Action: What We Learned From Our SoTL Experience.
College of MVLS SoTL Seminar University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, 27 April 2026.
2025
James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Crow, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757, Yin, Angelinca and Ryde, Gemma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9117-0803
(2025)
From Participants to Active Collaborators: Student Internships in Pedagogical Research (Keynote).
Student–Staff Partnerships Revisited: Tracing Origins, Navigating Evolutions, and Envisioning Futures – Raise Partnership, Online, 1 December 2025.
Starke, Reike, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015 and Alinier, Guillaume
(2025)
Critical care paramedics’ perceived barriers to undertaking Continuing Professional Development activities in Qatar.
Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care, 2025(3),
38.
(doi: 10.5339/jemtac.2025.38)
James, K.S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Crow, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757, Wilson, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-4280 and Yin, A.
(2025)
‘Conversations’: The Efficacy of Chat Platforms to Build a Community of Postgraduate Learners Across On‑Campus and Online Cohorts.
University of Glasgow MVLS Scholarship Symposium 2025, Glasgow, Scotland, 21 Aug 2025.
Pillai, Balakavitha Balaravi, Ip, Eugenia, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015 and Martin, Jenepher
(2025)
Surgical trainees' lived experience of entrustable professional activities: assessment in the Australasian context.
ANZ Journal of Surgery, 95(6),
pp. 1068-1073.
(doi: 10.1111/ans.70171)
(PMID:40353557)
(PMCID:PMC12227854)
Hislop, J., Angelova, N., Balaam, M., Brodie, J. and James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2025)
A case study analysis of embedding kindness in higher education curricula.
In: Doolan, M.A. and Ritchie, L. (eds.)
Leading Global Excellence in Pedagogy: Reshaping Teaching: The Pandemic & the New Now.
International Federation of National Teaching Fellows.
2024
James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2024)
Embedding Kindness in Higher Education Curricula: Case Study Analysis.
IFNTF “Symposathon” Transforming Teaching Excellence: Future Proofing Education for All, 2-3 December 2024.
Tay, Tricia and James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2024)
Exploring the experiences of undergraduate medical students on surgical placement – a qualitative study.
Journal of Surgical Education, 81(5),
pp. 671-679.
(doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.02.005)
(PMID:38556437)
2023
Law, Alex Kwok Keung, Hung, Kevin Kei Ching, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Kelly, Anne-Maree and Graham, Colin A.
(2023)
Virtual patient simulation in undergraduate emergency medicine education during COVID-19: randomized controlled trial.
Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine, 30(6),
pp. 439-446.
(doi: 10.1177/10249079231189376)
(PMCID:PMC10363675)
Articles
Starke, Reike, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015 and Alinier, Guillaume
(2025)
Critical care paramedics’ perceived barriers to undertaking Continuing Professional Development activities in Qatar.
Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care, 2025(3),
38.
(doi: 10.5339/jemtac.2025.38)
Pillai, Balakavitha Balaravi, Ip, Eugenia, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015 and Martin, Jenepher
(2025)
Surgical trainees' lived experience of entrustable professional activities: assessment in the Australasian context.
ANZ Journal of Surgery, 95(6),
pp. 1068-1073.
(doi: 10.1111/ans.70171)
(PMID:40353557)
(PMCID:PMC12227854)
Tay, Tricia and James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2024)
Exploring the experiences of undergraduate medical students on surgical placement – a qualitative study.
Journal of Surgical Education, 81(5),
pp. 671-679.
(doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.02.005)
(PMID:38556437)
Law, Alex Kwok Keung, Hung, Kevin Kei Ching, James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Kelly, Anne-Maree and Graham, Colin A.
(2023)
Virtual patient simulation in undergraduate emergency medicine education during COVID-19: randomized controlled trial.
Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine, 30(6),
pp. 439-446.
(doi: 10.1177/10249079231189376)
(PMCID:PMC10363675)
Book Sections
Hislop, J., Angelova, N., Balaam, M., Brodie, J. and James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2025)
A case study analysis of embedding kindness in higher education curricula.
In: Doolan, M.A. and Ritchie, L. (eds.)
Leading Global Excellence in Pedagogy: Reshaping Teaching: The Pandemic & the New Now.
International Federation of National Teaching Fellows.
Conference or Workshop Item
James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, King, Michael and Crow, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757
(2026)
Scholarship in Action: What We Learned From Our SoTL Experience.
College of MVLS SoTL Seminar University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, 27 April 2026.
James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Crow, Jenny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757, Yin, Angelinca and Ryde, Gemma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9117-0803
(2025)
From Participants to Active Collaborators: Student Internships in Pedagogical Research (Keynote).
Student–Staff Partnerships Revisited: Tracing Origins, Navigating Evolutions, and Envisioning Futures – Raise Partnership, Online, 1 December 2025.
James, K.S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015, Crow, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7990-2757, Wilson, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9313-4280 and Yin, A.
(2025)
‘Conversations’: The Efficacy of Chat Platforms to Build a Community of Postgraduate Learners Across On‑Campus and Online Cohorts.
University of Glasgow MVLS Scholarship Symposium 2025, Glasgow, Scotland, 21 Aug 2025.
James, Kirstin Stuart ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5587-3015
(2024)
Embedding Kindness in Higher Education Curricula: Case Study Analysis.
IFNTF “Symposathon” Transforming Teaching Excellence: Future Proofing Education for All, 2-3 December 2024.
Prior publications
Conference Proceedings
Dr Kirstin Stuart James (2025) Embedding Kindness in University Curricula. Centre for Higher Education Research (CHER) group, Edinburgh Napier University. 12th March 2025 Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James (2022) Need for Digital Mindfulness Interventions in Healthcare Education System: A Pressing Concern. SEAADE 2022, Cambodia Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James (2022) Evidence Update: Occupational Therapists in Emergency Departments. A Critical Review of the Literature World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Paris Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James (2022) Postgraduate Healthcare Students Experiences of Peer Review AMEE 2022, Lyon Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2019) Integrating education for Allied Health Professionals and Social Work to meet the health and social care needs for tomorrow's Scottish population Occupational Therapy Australia 28th Conference & Exhibition Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James (2019) Development of an Integrated Curriculum for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work Students in Scotland World Confederation for Physical Therapy, Geneva Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2018) Making Integrated Health and Social Care Education a Reality: A Scottish Example 24th ENOTHE Annual Meeting Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2017) Emergency departments and occupational therapy: integration, unscheduled care and over-crowding International Journal of Integrated Care Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2017) Exploring Visiting Times as a Way to Enhance Meaningful Activity Participation: A Collaborative Research Project Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2016) Promoting Excellence in Dementia Care and Support Promoting Excellence in Dementia Care and Support: National Conference Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2015) Occupational enrichment: a role for occupation in pain recognition, assessment and management for people with dementia in hospital settings British Pain Society Annual Scientific meeting Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2015) The detection and management of pain in patients with dementia in acute-care settings: development of a decision support tool Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2014) An exploration of the lived experience of occupational therapists in Accident and Emergency Departments in Scotland – All of life is here 16th International Conference of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2014) The detection and mangement of pain in patients with dementia in acute care settings: development of a decision support tool SPaRC Conference Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2013) Occupational therapists lived experiences of working in accident and Emergency Departments in Scotland Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2012) Occupational Therapists Lived Experiences Of Working In Accident And Emergency Departments In Scotland Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Article
Dr Kirstin Stuart James (2025) Pre-hospital care professionals’ perception of the barriers and enablers to undertaking Continuing Professional Development activities. Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care. Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Dr Kirstin Stuart James (2025) Surgical trainees’ lived experience of entrustable professional activities for assessment in an Australasian context. B Balaravi Pillai, KS James, E Ip, J Martin ANZ Journal of Surgery Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Dr Kirstin Stuart James, Tricia Tay (2024) Exploring the experiences of undergraduate medical students on surgical placement – a qualitative study Tay, T, and James, K.S. Journal of Surgical Education Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
James, K., Jones, D., Kempenaar, L., Preston, J., Kerr, S. (2018) Occupational therapists in emergency departments: A qualitative study British Journal of Occupational Therapy Scopus - Elsevier. ISSN 14776006 03080226 (doi: 10.1177/0308022617744510)
(2016) Closs, S.J., Dowding, D., Allcock, N., Hulme, C., Keady, J., Sampson, E.L., Briggs, M., Corbett, A., Esterhuizen, P., Holmes, J. and James, K., 2016. The pain and dementia decision support system: Functional requirements specifications. In Towards improved decision support in the assessment and management of pain for people with dementia in hospital: a systematic meta-review and observational study. NIHR Journals Library. NIHR Journals Library Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2016) Towards improved decision support in the assessment and management of pain for people with dementia in hospital: a systematic meta-review and observational study NIHR Journals Library Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2016) Foundations for the development of the decision support tool NIHR Journals Library Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
James, K. (2016) Occupational therapists in Emergency Departments Emergency Medicine Journal Scopus - Elsevier. ISSN 14720213 14720205 (doi: 10.1136/emermed-2015-205536)
James, K., Jones, D., Kempenaar, L., Preston, J., Kerr, S. (2016) Occupational therapy and emergency departments: A critical review of the literature British Journal of Occupational Therapy Scopus - Elsevier. ISSN 14776006 03080226 (doi: 10.1177/0308022616629168)
Lichtner, V. et al. (2016) The assessment and management of pain in patients with dementia in hospital settings: A multi-case exploratory study from a decision making perspective BMC Health Services Research Scopus - Elsevier. ISSN 14726963 (doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1690-1)
Dowding, D., Lichtner, V., Allcock, N., Briggs, M., James, K., Keady, J., Lasrado, R., Sampson, E.L., Swarbrick, C., José Closs, S. (2016) Using sense-making theory to aid understanding of the recognition, assessment and management of pain in patients with dementia in acute hospital settings International Journal of Nursing Studies Scopus - Elsevier. ISSN 00207489 (doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2015.08.009)
(2011) On becoming a researcher in the practice context. Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Other
Dr Kirstin Stuart James (2024) Through the Lens of Occupation University of Edinburgh Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2019) Embedding a Culture of Kindness in the University Curriculum Learning Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2014) The lived experience of occupational therapists in Scottish Accident and Emergency Departments Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
() Thesis: The lived experience of occupational therapists in Scottish Accident and Emergency Departments Glasgow Caledonian University Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Conference item
Dr Kirstin Stuart James (2023) “Let’s get building” Clinical Educator Programme, Medical Education Symposium.University of Edinburgh. Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James, Tricia Tay (2023) A scoping review exploring the experiences of undergraduate students in surgical education through the lens of cognitive load theory Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Kirstin James, Jane Hislop, Jess Gurney (2023) Should the dissertation be discharged? A scoping review of the efficacy of the written dissertation as an assessment method in progressive, postgraduate, online, global clinical education curricula. ASM 2023 Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2021) The future of sight-loss education in occupational therapy: a qualitative study Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2015) James, K., 2015. An Integrated Community Falls Emergency Pathway. International Journal of Integrated Care, 15(5) Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2010) Screening by Occupational Therapists: A Pro-Active Screening Audit NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Edinburgh Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Report
(2017) 'Our Visit' Queens Nursing Institute Scotland Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2017) Being Home: Housing and Dementia in Scotland Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
(2013) NICE Public health guideline [PH16]. Evidence Update. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Dr Kirstin Stuart James.
Supervision
Current PhD Student Projects
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.
PhD "To become a competent physician in Sweden's new education system."
Current MSc Dissertation Projects
University of Glasgow
MSc Health Professions Education
PhD Assessment
I was previously assessment convenor for PhD Clinical Education at University of Edinburgh
Past Dissertation Projects
For over a decade, I have forged a strong track record of success in supporting multiple dissertation completions (40+) in a breadth of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. These include in BA Integrated Health and Social Care, University of the West of Scotland; BSc Occupational Therapy, Glasgow Caledonian University; MSc Physiotherapy, Queen Margaret University; MSc Occupational Therapy, Edinburgh Napier University; MSc Clinical Education, University of Edinburgh.
I continue to support MSc Surgical Sciences, University of Edinburgh in the assessment of its dissertations.
Teaching
My teaching interests are in health professions education and I am developing new, more accessible approaches to learning by developing ''stackable'' micro-credentials for health educators and community practitioners.
