July 3, 2026
Launching My Own Teaching Business: Bridging Healthcare and English Language
I didn’t follow a typical career path and that’s exactly what makes this journey worth sharing. After years in clinical practice and nurse education, I built a teaching business that helps healthcare professionals communicate clearly and confidently in English. Here’s how nursing led me to Medical English Teaching and why that combination is my biggest strength.
My Healthcare Background
I qualified as a paediatric nurse from the University of Salford in 2000 and began my career on busy NHS medical wards in Manchester & Belfast, building a strong clinical foundation. In 2003, I moved to London and began working in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and completed my Neonatal – Qualified in Specialty (QIS) training. Over the next six years in a busy tertiary NICU in central London, I discovered I had a flair for teaching and supporting learners in the healthcare setting.
Ready for a change, I moved back to Manchester in 2009 and I specialised in nursing education, which led me to work in various leadership roles in qualified staff and pre-registration student training in clinical practice. I also worked directly with the partner universities, where I gained a lot of experience in Education Quality Assurance (QA). I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching (PGCE) in 2012 to hone my teaching and assessing skills.
That specialist education experience opened an unexpected door and I was recruited to work in Doha, Qatar as a NICU clinical nurse educator in a new greenfield hospital in 2017. It was a steep learning curve becoming familiar with new systems, medical equipment, standards and a culturally diverse workforce but I embraced the challenge and advanced my skills and knowledge further as a result. Later in 2019, I became the inaugural transfusion safety nurse, a role I held until I left Doha in 2021.
Transitioning to English Language Teaching
I’ll always value what nursing gave me but I had always dreamed of being my own boss. In 2021, I took the leap and retrained as an English language teacher, building experience both online with a globally recognised platform and in a local private language school. Along the way, I became CELTA certified and completed OET Knowledge Teacher Training to strengthen my teaching practice and credibility.
Everything I learned in healthcare education transferred directly: course design, competency assessment and supporting learners who feel stuck or overwhelmed. The difference now is focus. I combine clinical insight with language teaching to help healthcare professionals communicate safely, naturally and confidently. That is how Medical English Teacher was established.
How Can I Help You?
Healthcare professionals need English for Medical Purposes (EMP), the kind of English that supports safe and clear communication in real clinical situations. That includes terminology, documentation language, patient-centred explanations and the professional tone expected in healthcare. Here’s a really interesting article for further reading on the topic.
Many teachers can teach English but I also bring real-world clinical experience to help you use it with confidence at work. I work with doctors and nurses from many countries and lessons are tailored to your role, goals and workplace context. Here’s some examples of things we can work on:
- Presentations & reports — structure, clarity, pronunciation targets and delivery
- Case discussions — clinical fluency, reflection prompts and reusable vocabulary
- Patient communication — explaining procedures, checking understanding, reassurance and empathy
- Confidence coaching — reduce anxiety and handle challenging interactions more naturally.
Next Steps
If you’d like to work together, here is the simplest way to get started:
- Book a free, no obligation introductory call.
- Complete a short learning needs analysis so we can clarify your goals.
- Receive a clear recommendation and lesson plan based on your role and context.
- Start lessons in a friendly, relaxed and student-focused environment.
If you’d also like my short guide to: Building Patient Trust Through Clear, Professional Communication. Send me a message here and comment “free guide” to receive a copy directly to your inbox
Roisin – Medical English Teacher