Mark Waters is the director of teaching, learning and assessment at the University College of Osteopathy (UCO). Mark has been working in osteopathic education for many years and brings his extensive experience as an educator to ensuring that the undergraduate provision at UCO is delivered in a way that reflects the best pedagogy and the latest academic thinking. 

After many years working as a primary school teacher Mark made the move to Higher Education joining UCO (then BSO) in 2006. Initially taking the role of academic learning adviser he quickly moved into course management, becoming the access to HE diploma course leader in his first year with the organisation. This lead to him taking responsibility for the mixed mode degree pathway and then later he headed up the development of the UCO’s first entirely part-time M.Ost programme, validated in 2013. Mark has been running this degree since its inception and extended his responsibilities in this area by taking on management of the full time degree in August 2018. He took on the role of director of teaching, learning and assessment in September 2022.  Mark has also taught a number of subjects to UCO students, including academic learning techniques, professionalism, ethics, communication skills and research practices, and delivers elements of the UCO's PGCert ACE course and CPD programme.

In addition to his various roles at the UCO Mark sits on the quality and development committee of LASER learning awards. He has continued to build on his qualifications and experience, completing an MA in education in August 2010. Mark is passionate about education and osteopathy and has conducted research on preparedness for practice, e-learning, collaborative learning and assessment many elements of which he has presented at conference.

Mark says he believes one of his main roles is focusing on the student's learning experience. He enjoys working closely with undergraduates to make sure that they get the most out of their time studying here. It is this part of his job that gives him the greatest satisfaction.

Outside the UCO Mark is the chair of governors at an outstanding primary school, enjoys running and cycling and is fanatical about cinema, writing film reviews for a small London publication and his own movie blog.

A former graduate of the UCO, Samantha now heads up the Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Paediatric Osteopathic Practice (SPOP) using innovation, evidence based and patient centred approaches to meet the needs of varied patients that are seen within the paediatric clinic. 

Samantha was a member of UCO clinic faculty for eight years before stepping into the course leader role so knows first-hand some of the challenges that students face on their journey to becoming an osteopath.  

As an active member of faculty and the wider Osteopathic Community, Samantha sits on several of our committees and is part the General Osteopathic Council steering group looking at minimum standards in paediatric practice. Her specialist area is paediatrics and she continues to lecture in this subject both in the UK and Europe, delivering an evidence-based approach to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

She is an enthusiastic senior member of staff who when not at the university heads up The Jamii Project, a social enterprise working with young people not in education, employment or training. Her passion is to see osteopathy recognised in remote areas of the world so regularly works alongside a UK medical team in Burma with displaced indigenous people.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), The University College of Osteopathy. Editor-in-Chief, The International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. Member of the WHO Guideline Expert Review Team. Most of Steven’s working time is spent on research and education at the University College of Osteopathy. He held a clinical post as an osteopath in an NHS primary care setting for many years. His recent research has focused on reassurance, communication and consent, and safety in manual therapy. He was the lead researcher in the largest UK study investigating patient and osteopath’s experience of risk management and adverse events and consent. Steven has published widely and been involved in the development of NICE’s clinical guidelines for low back pain and sciatica.

Publications
Vaughan B, Moran R, Tehan P, Fryer G, Holmes M, Vogel S, et al. (2016) Manual therapy and cervical artery dysfunction: Identification of potential risk factors in clinical encounters. Int J Osteopath Med . Doi: 10.1016/j.ijosm.2016.01.007.Holt N, Pincus T, Vogel S. (2015) Reassurance during low back pain consultations with GPs: a qualitative study. Br J Gen Pract ;65(639):e692–701. Doi: 10.3399/bjgp15X686953.Pincus, T. Holt, N. Vogel, S. Underwood, M. Savage, R. Walsh, D. A. & Taylor, S. J. C. (2013) Cognitive and affective reassurance and patient outcomes in primary care: A systematic review ',  Pain.154; 2407-2416.Vogel, S. (2012) Consent and information exchange – A burden or opportunity? International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 15; 3: 83-85.Daniels, G. and Vogel, S. (2012) Consent in osteopathy: A cross sectional survey of patients' information and process preferences. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 15; 3: 92-102.Vogel, S. (2010) Adverse events and treatment reactions in osteopathy. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 13; 3: 83-84.