Table 5 Issues and challenges of health education leaders (adapted from McKimm, 2004) [22, 23]

Personal issues

• It can be difficult to maintain an appropriate work-life balance, particularly for those with family responsibilities.

• Managing both clinical and academic careers is difficult.

Organisational and cultural issues

• In order to succeed, leaders need to understand the culture of their own organisation.

• Some healthcare disciplines may better facilitate the demands of both clinical and academic life.

Balancing competing agendas

• Dual demands of the higher education sector, which is highly accountable, and healthcare systems, with rapid change, may be stressful for healthcare education leaders.

The wider agenda

• Education leaders need to have an awareness of the wider healthcare and education agendas, and help drive new issues, such as interprofessional learning and collaboration. They need to help promote diversity and innovation in leadership.