Biography
Professor Swales started her medical training at University College London in 1991. Following an intercalated BSc and PhD in Neurosciences, she moved to pursue her clinical training in Oxford, and qualified in 2000. Following postgraduate training in Nottingham, she returned to Oxford to take up a Clinical Lectureship in Rheumatology in 2003. During this period of specialist training, she developed a research interest in inflammatory arthritis - particularly rheumatoid arthritis - and medical education. Professor Swales was appointed as an Honorary Consultant at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in 2012 and divides her time between clinical work and student teaching/supervision. In 2014 she was appointed as Associate Director of Clinical Studies, and in 2018 she became Director of Clinical Studies for the Medical School. Professor Swales now has strategic and operational oversight of all undergraduate clinical medical training at Oxford University. Since 2025 Professor Swales has also been Head of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and now sits on University Council.
Professor Swales has been teaching and training Oxford University medical students and postgraduates since 2003, initially as Clinical Lecturer and since 2011 as Director of Undergraduate Studies at NDORMS. In 2012 she was elected as a Senior Fellow in the Higher Education Academy. In 2014 she was appointed as Associate Director of Clinical Studies for the University of Oxford Medical School. Alongside teaching medical students throughout their clinical training, she has a special interest in helping students foster and maintain research interests and developing early aspirations for clinical academic careers. Professor Swales works closely with the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School (OUCAGS) to identify and address barriers or challenges for students gaining research experience; she is the University’s INSPIRE lead for the Academy of Medical Sciences. In addition she has responsibilities for two MSc programs (Medical Education and Musculoskeletal Sciences), and co-leads the MB DPhil program for Oxford Medical School. As part of the Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team in NDORMS, she also takes particular responsibility for encouraging and supporting women in their training and careers progression in the department. Professor Swales is a General Medical Council Education Associate, ensuring QA processes for new and established medical schools.
Professor Swales has a broad experience of laboratory techniques/experimental design, and clinical trial delivery on the NIHR Clinical Trials Unit at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. She has supported a portfolio of academic-led and experimental medicine studies, as well as later phase clinical trials in collaboration with partners from the pharmaceutical industry. Since her appointment as Director of Clinical Studies, she has also developed an interest in medical education research.
Publications:
Student Poster Conferences as a Formative, Authentic, Inclusive and Sustainable Assessment Practice. Sims D, Swales C, Aitken D. Clin Teach. 2025 Apr;22(2):e70050
Virtual patients improve history-taking competence and confidence in medical students. Raafat N, Harbourne AD, Radia K, Woodman MJ, Swales C, Saunders KEA. Med Teach. 2024 May;46(5):682-688
Are Janus kinase inhibitors safe and effective in treating the key clinical domains of psoriatic arthritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Harkins P, Burke E, Swales C, Silman A, Conway R. Int J Rheum Dis. 2023 Jan;26(1):31-42.
The impact of patient skin colour on diagnostic ability and confidence of medical students.
Dodd RV, Rafi D, Stackhouse AA, Brown CA, Westacott RJ, Meeran K, Hughes E, Wilkinson P, Gurnell M, Swales C, Sam AH.Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2023 Oct;28(4):1171-1189.
Cross-sectional Survey of Medical student perceptions of And desires for Research and Training pathways (SMART): an analysis of prospective cohort study of UK medical students.
Parameswaran G, Bowman A, Swales C, Ooi SZY, Chan SW, Babu PR, Ramsay D, Kostoudi S, Bandyopadhyay S; SMART-NANSIG-InCiSion Collaborative.BMC Med Educ. 2023 Dec 15;23(1):964
The online version of an evidence-based hand exercise program for people with rheumatoid arthritis: A mixed-method, proof-of-concept study.
Srikesavan C, Williamson E, Thompson JY, Cranston T, Swales C, Lamb SE.J Hand Ther. 2022 Jul-Sep;35(3):468-476.
Cross-sectional Survey of Medical student perceptions of and desires for Research and Training pathways (SMART): an analysis of prospective cohort study of UK medical students.
Parameswaran G, Bowman A, Swales C, Ooi SZY, Chan SW, Babu PR, Ramsay D, Kostoudi S, Bandyopadhyay S; SMART-NANSIG-InCiSion Collaborative. BMC Med Educ. 2023 Dec 15;23(1):964
Cross-sectional Survey of Medical student Attitudes to Research and Training pathways (SMART) in the UK: study protocol.
Roche S, Bandyopadhyay S, Grassam-Rowe A, Brown RA, Iveson P, Mallett G, Eggington H, Swales C.BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 2;11(9):e050104.
Positions
- Tutorial Fellow in Clinical Medicine
- Director of Clinical Studies, University of Oxford Medical School
Subjects
- Clinical Medicine
