Scott Kaatz
Student spotlight details
Scott worked as a full time physician in Detroit while completing the MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care and the programme helped him gain a global perspective on health care.
'Before enrolling on the programme I was an inpatient and outpatient internist at an academic teaching hospital in Detroit. As a faculty member in the Department of Internal Medicine, I was responsible for teaching a 15 hour course in evidence-based medicine.
'I had previously attended the “How to Teach EBM” 1 week course at McMaster University in Hamilton and followed the next year as a tutor trainee. Several years later, I felt my course was getting stale and wanted to refresh my knowledge and delve more deeply into EBM. The Oxford program was fairly new at the time and was the other epicenter of EBM, which made it the ideal next step.
'The work life balance was very busy, full time physician, flight from US to UK and homework in between. However, the pace was not overwhelming and the program had sufficient flexibility to accommodate mid-career professionals. One of the struggles was to attend family functions and I recall we had a 2 week on site course once and I flew back and forth during the weekend to attend my son’s band performance at a football game. Lots of airline miles and concentrated study time.
'The most rewarding aspect of the programme was the diversity and friendship of my classmates; ENT physician from Africa, pediatrician from Ireland, dietician from the UK... It was fascinating to hear perspectives form not only on classroom topics like ethical issues in research, but also how diverse care systems are around the world. When conversations and friendships can be fostered in a pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien held weekly readings, you appreciate how unique the learning environment this program offers.
'I am now an academic adult hospitalist at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and continue to work, teach, lecture and do research as well as lots of patient care. My gains in knowledge of research methodology, biostatistics and evidence critique has enhanced my skills in these areas.
'This course offers an opportunity to gain a global perspective of healthcare in a stunningly beautiful city at one of the most famous universities in the world in a program that was inspired by one of the founders of evidence based medicine.'
