Professor John McLachlan

John's current role is focussed on assessment, particularly standard setting for very high stakes exams in health care. He acts as a research mentor to a number of academic colleagues interested in research in medical and healthcare education. He contributed extensively to the development of the Masters in Medical Education programme.

John McLachlan is currently Professor of Medical Education and Assessment Lead at UCLan (University of Central Lancashire) in the UK. Previously he was Associate Dean of Medicine at Durham University, and Director of Phase 1 at Peninsula Medical School. He is a developmental biologist by background, but over the last 18 years has specialised in health care education delivery and research. Previously, he was Editor-in-Chief of Medical Education, the leading journal in the field. His national roles include serving as a Board Member of the UK Clinical Aptitude Test, with the UK Foundation Programme Office as their psychometric expert, and as a member of the General Medical Council’s Expert Reference Group for the planned national Medical Licensing Assessment. Recently he was commissioned by Health Education England to review assessment policy with regard to the Royal College of General Practice, and the Royal College of Psychiatry. He has also been commissioned by the General Medical Council, the Health and Care Professions Council, the Department of Health, Health Education England, the Scottish Government, the Medical Schools Council, and the Higher Education Academy to produce reports on key aspects of health policy, particularly with regard to assessment and selection. His work has proved influential in changing national policy, particularly with regard to the assessment of international medical graduates wishing to practice in the UK, and the assessment of GPs and Psychiatrists in training in the UK. His work on anatomy pedagogy has influenced anatomy teaching in all of the 5 new medical schools that have opened in the UK since it was first published in 2004. He has over 60 publications on medical education issues, including refereed papers in BMJ, Academic Medicine and Medical Education.

John has been commissioned by the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, to carry out Independent Reviews of their assessment processes. In 2022, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Association for the Study of Medical Education for his services to the field.