Pedro Elston

Pedro Elston serves as Senior Lecturer in Digital Education at Queen Mary University of London's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, leading the Learning Innovation Team since 2021. He chairs the Medical Schools Council's Digital Education Group and directs the UK's first NHS England-partnered blended medical programme, driving technology integration in medical curricula.

Elston holds a PhD in Skeletal Biochemistry and maintains dual research trajectories: investigating bone mineralization disorders (e.g., osteoporosis) with Lancaster University, and pioneering digital education innovations including VR/AR applications and human-centered blended learning frameworks. His work emphasizes preserving clinical empathy while advancing technological adoption.

Recent publications (2022-2023) reveal a strategic pivot toward digital transformation in medical education, with concentrated focus on virtual reality pedagogy, AI literacy frameworks, and systemic change mechanisms for curriculum modernization. These outputs directly inform his grant-funded initiatives building digitally capable healthcare workforces.

He actively supervises graduate students (including two completed master's projects) and serves as external examiner for University of East Anglia and University of Nottingham programmes. Major funding includes:

• NHS England (£250k, 2021): Blended medical programme (launched 2023, evaluation due August 2024)
• QMUL President's Fund (£35k total, 2023): VR skill-based education and AI literacy projects
• ASME (£20k, 2022): Post-pandemic educational innovation research

Under Elston's leadership, the Learning Innovation Team has deployed VR anatomy training to 500+ students and co-created student-driven AI education resources, establishing scalable models for technology-enhanced medical education.