Dr Victoria O'Brien

Victoria graduated from Warwick University in 2013 and completed her foundation training in Severn Deanery, before moving to Thames Valley to take up a broad-based training post. This programme enabled her to gain experience in a variety of specialties and develop a holistic approach to care which inspired her into Geriatric medicine. She is currently a specialty trainee working at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.

In 2018, she took part in Health Education England’s ‘improving global health through leadership development’ programme and spent six months working in South Africa helping to develop a palliative care team at a regional hospital. This team has since won a spanning boundaries leadership award for their work with patients and staff across the local area. Victoria subsequently trained as a mentor, and now supports other healthcare professionals taking part in the scheme.

Victoria also has a keen interest in teaching and completed a teaching fellowship year at Warwick Hospital in 2019. Here she completed a PGCert in Medical Education, designed a successful quality improvement programme for foundation doctors, and a regional PACES course. She is passionate about supporting trainees and is currently the education and training representative for the British Geriatrics Society trainee’s council. She has also established a local mentor scheme for trainees in Thames Valley.

Reason for applying for the scheme

Inspired by the role strong leadership can play in day-to-day clinical work and in development of the wider healthcare service, Victoria hopes to develop her own leadership skills through the fellowship, to benefit both patients and the teams she works in.

As a Geriatrician, Victoria sees first-hand the complexity of caring for a growing multi co-morbid ageing population, and the challenges this brings to the way we deliver care and dedicate resources. This has inspired a particular interest in the interface between community and hospital provision, as well as how equitable healthcare is delivered. Her interest in global health, and work abroad, has also reinforced the importance of teamwork and sharing innovative ideas, both locally and internationally.

Victoria is excited to work with the CQC and for the opportunity to develop new skills within a leading organisation. She is looking forward to new challenges and learning from healthcare leaders as well as her fellowship peers.