What if healthcare wasn’t just about clinical expertise and procedures, but about learning within communities and building networks to truly understand people's needs?
In this solo episode, I take you on a swift tour of my personal journey—one that started with a childhood dream of nursing and evolved into a mission to reshape how learning happens to meet the needs of people in ways that work for them. From frontline nursing in the 1980s to leading place-based learning initiatives, I explore how embedding learning cultures within systems can drive people-centred, integrated care.
In this episode I talk about
- My journey from frontline nursing to system leadership
- What place-based learning really means—moving beyond workplace learning to learning in the place
- The three core values that emerged from my Darzi Project:
- People-centred learning
- education that supports how we meet the needs of people in our communities in ways that work for them
- creating education and learning environments that work for people providing care
- Cultures of learning in teams—creating environments that encourage questioning, reflection, and growth
- Networks for learning together—expanding education beyond organisations into communities and wider systems
- How training hubs, community education facilitators, and cross-sector partnerships are shaping a new approach to learning in healthcare
- Why stepping beyond traditional structures led me to found Reflective Ruth Consultancy and this podcast
Call to Action:
I challenge you to rethink learning, embrace collaboration, and take action—whether in healthcare or beyond. Support the #DoWith movement, build learning networks, and stay curious.
Resources;
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/projects/do-with
https://arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk/news/blog-achieving-people-centered-integrated-care-through-place-based-learning
https://arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk/news/blog-achieving-people-centered-integrated-care-through-place-based-learning
