Understanding and Improving Workplace Learning – An Interview with Dr. Bridget O’Brien

Bridget O’Brien, PhD, is a Professor of Medicine and an education scientist in the Center for Faculty Educators at the University of California, San Francisco. As co-director of the Teaching Scholars Program and the UCSF-University of Utrecht Health Professions Education doctoral program, she teaches and mentors faculty and learners interested in education research and scholarship. At the San Francisco VA, she directs the Advanced Fellowship in Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research. In 2015 she was selected as one of five national Macy Faculty Scholars supported by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation. She is also a deputy editor for the journal Academic Medicine.She began her career in medical education working on the book Educating Physicians: A Call for Reform of Medical School and Residency, published by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Dr. O'Brien's research focuses primarily on understanding and improving workplace learning among health professionals. Her work has explored learning processes in interprofessional, team, and longitudinal clinical experiences. Her current work studies opportunities and barriers to lifelong learning in clinical practice. Dr. O'Brien has expertise in qualitative research and has authored and co-authored several articles on qualitative methods, including guidelines for reporting on qualitative research.  In this episode of the KIPRIME podcast, Bridget talks to Alina Jenkins about her background in organizational behavior and professional education and what inspired her to move into improving workplace learning.