Joan Carter

Joan Carter volunteered as a "simulated patient" for the Edinburgh Medical School for almost ten years. 

 

Born and raised in New York City, Joan has lived in Scotland for over five decades, residing in the southside of Edinburgh for 36 of those years. After reducing her working hours as a community mediator in 2015, Joan sought a way to utilise her extra time and acting interests. She enrolled as a volunteer with the Simulated Patient Programme after a friend notified her of a recruitment poster at The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

 

Launched in 2001, the Edinburgh Simulated Patient Programme aims to equip medical students with the skills, competencies, attributes and attitudes to allow them to function effectively and confidently as a doctor following graduation. Volunteers like Joan portray the characteristics of real patients to help medical students to learn about doctor-patient interactions. The programme is an important part of the Edinburgh Medical School’s training and assessment of medical students and could not happen without our team of dedicated volunteers.

 

Joan Carter retired as a volunteer in 2022 and is a valued member of the programme, whose contribution of time and expertise has helped further the Edinburgh Medical School’s education and research.