LEARN Symposium 2025

Rola Ajjawi

Rola Ajjawi is Professor of Medical Education in the Department of Surgery and Scientist at the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, at the University of British Columbia. In this role she acts as Associate Director Research, supervises graduate students and leads several programs of research into feedback and workplace learning cultures, equity in assessment, student failure and success, and latterly belonging. Her research seeks to optimize learning environments for learner success through examining the often hidden social, cultural and relational factors that influence learning. It is well cited, impactful and robust. Having worked in Australia, UK and Canada in both higher education and health professions education, Rola has extensive knowledge of the sector. She was awarded a Karolinska Institutet Fellowship in 2021. She currently chairs the International Association for Health Professions Education (AMEE) Research Committee. Rola was Deputy Editor of the journal Medical Education (2015-2024) and served on the editorial board of Teaching in Higher Education (2020-2024). She was the lead guest editor of a special issue of Teaching in Higher Education: Reconsidering the Role of Authenticity in Assessment in Higher Education published March 2025.

Renée Stalmeijer

Renée E. Stalmeijer is trained as an educational scientist and holds a PhD in medical education obtained from Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Development and Research at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML), Maastricht University, the Netherlands. Her program of research focuses on optimizing workplace learning by investigating the intra- and interprofessional teaching and learning dynamic in the clinical workplace. Additionally, her research interests include qualitative research methodology, use of theory in research, and educational quality assurance. As of September 1st 2025, she is the new program director for the Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) at Maastricht University. She teaches research methodology within the MHPE, the School of Health Professions Education (SHE) PhD Writing course, and co-coordinates the short course Critical Choices in Qualitative Research Methodology.

Karen Stegers-Jager

Full professor Innovative and person-centered learning and working in healthcare at Radboudumc. Karen Stegers-Jager has been appointed professor of Innovative and person-centered learning and working in healthcare at Radboudumc/Radboud University from 1 October 2023. Trough research and teaching, she focuses on equal opportunities for all students at the medical faculty. "How do we do selection as well as possible, and how do we ensure that we train a diverse population of health professionals".