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Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowships – An Insider’s Guide

Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowships – An Insider’s Guide. Joanna Dowman Academic Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology Birmingham. Outline. What is a Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)? Applying for an ACF Locations and number of Gastroenterology ACF posts available

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Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowships – An Insider’s Guide

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  1. Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowships – An Insider’s Guide Joanna Dowman Academic Clinical Fellow in Gastroenterology Birmingham

  2. Outline • What is a Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)? • Applying for an ACF • Locations and number of Gastroenterology ACF posts available • Advantages and disadvantages of an ACF • How might an ACF influence your career path?

  3. What is an Academic Clinical Fellowship? • Aimed at specialist trainees who can demonstrate potential as a clinical academic • Protected time for research leading to application for PhD / higher degree • Issued with NTN (A) • Duration up to 3 years • 75% time in clinical training; 25% in research

  4. My ACF – Year 1 • Started ACF December 2006 • Clinical training in large DGH • Usual SpR duties eg. endoscopy, clinics, on-calls • 1 day/week in liver research labs • Experience of basic lab techniques eg. cell culture, immunohistochemistry, PCR, Western blots

  5. ACF - Year 2 • Clinical work at QEH Liver Unit • 1 week in 4 spent in research • Currently working on 2 projects (NASH related) • Aim to apply for research training fellowship later this year • (Wellcome trust, MRC, CORE) • Start PhD next year if successful

  6. What if I don’t obtain funding or don’t like research? • ACF trainee will rejoin non-academic clinical specialty training programme • If unsuccessful in obtaining fellowship after 3 years • If no longer wishes to continue research • An ACF does not represent a commitment to a PhD or academic career

  7. Applying for an ACF - Eligibility • Trainee must be eligible to apply for specialty training post or already hold SpR / StR post • Not aimed at individuals with PhD although not excluded • Open to FTSTAs • Applicants may also apply for non-academic specialty training • Part-time ACFs are an option; maximum of 5 yrs

  8. Application Process Described in detail on NCCRCD website: www.nccrcd.nhs.uk/ Requirements: • Completed application form • Ability to ‘demonstrate outstanding potential as a clinical academic in research and/or education’ • Academic referee

  9. Availability of ACF posts • Total 250 ACFs in 2008 • Spread across country • Most specialties included • Relatively few in Gastroenterology – 30 ACFS between 2006-2010 across 6 centres

  10. Academic Clinical Fellowships Advantages and Disadvantages

  11. Benefits of an ACF.. • Juggling full-time clinical work with research is difficult • ACF provides opportunity to continue clinical training with dedicated research time set aside

  12. More Benefits of an ACF.. • More informed decision prior to undertaking higher research degree • Acquisition of basic lab knowledge/skills allowing immediate commencement of project later • Strong position when applying for research training fellowship • Established potential as clinical academic • Project to be undertaken in major research centre

  13. Even More Benefits of an ACF.. • Publications • Attending / presenting at academic meetings • Networking • Experience and skills gained will be useful whatever your future career

  14. Disadvantages of an ACF • Less time for clinical training – a potentially greater problem in procedure-oriented specialties • But training now competency rather than time based - no longer a time-served requirement

  15. Disadvantages of an ACF • Initial teething problems for first cohort of ACFs – • lack of structure in research setting • unfamiliarity with scheme in clinical setting • should improve with experience

  16. ACF – What Next? • Option to resume non-academic clinical specialist training • Apply for Clinical Lectureship (CL) • Part of integrated academic pathway • 50% research, 50% clinical • Requires prior completion of PhD or equivalent • Duration up to 4 yrs

  17. ACF – What Next? • After Clinical Lectureship, may proceed to Intermediate/Senior Lectureship or Clinician Scientist Fellowship • Additional opportunities for career progression through: • Networking • Presentations • Publications

  18. Summary • ACFs offer unique opportunity to combine clinical and academic training • Duration 3 yrs - 75% clinical; 25% research • Prepare trainee to undertake PhD/higher degree • May continue research as Clinical Lecturer • Many additional opportunities: • Publishing; conferences; networking • Main disadvantage is reduction in clinical training time

  19. Questions?

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