walport / academic clinical fellowships – an insider's guide
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Walport / Academic Walport / Academic Clinical Clinical
Fellowships – Fellowships – An Insider’s GuideAn Insider’s Guide
Joanna DowmanJoanna Dowman
Academic Clinical Fellow in Academic Clinical Fellow in GastroenterologyGastroenterology
BirminghamBirmingham
OutlineOutline
What is a Walport / Academic Clinical What is a Walport / Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)?Fellowship (ACF)?
Applying for an ACFApplying for an ACF Locations and number of Locations and number of
Gastroenterology ACF posts availableGastroenterology ACF posts available Advantages and disadvantages of an Advantages and disadvantages of an
ACFACF How might an ACF influence your How might an ACF influence your
career path?career path?
What is an Academic Clinical What is an Academic Clinical Fellowship? Fellowship?
Aimed at specialist trainees who can Aimed at specialist trainees who can demonstrate potential as a clinical demonstrate potential as a clinical academicacademic
Protected time for research leading to Protected time for research leading to application for PhD / higher degreeapplication for PhD / higher degree
Issued with NTN (A)Issued with NTN (A) Duration up to 3 yearsDuration up to 3 years 75% time in clinical training; 25% in 75% time in clinical training; 25% in
researchresearch
My ACF – Year 1My ACF – Year 1 Started ACF December 2006 Started ACF December 2006
Clinical training in large DGHClinical training in large DGH Usual SpR duties Usual SpR duties
eg. endoscopy, clinics, on-calls eg. endoscopy, clinics, on-calls 1 day/week in liver research labs 1 day/week in liver research labs Experience of basic lab techniquesExperience of basic lab techniques
eg. cell culture, immunohistochemistry, eg. cell culture, immunohistochemistry, PCR,PCR,
Western blotsWestern blots
ACF - Year 2ACF - Year 2
Clinical work at QEH Liver Unit Clinical work at QEH Liver Unit 1 week in 4 spent in research1 week in 4 spent in research Currently working on 2 projects Currently working on 2 projects
(NASH related)(NASH related) Aim to apply for research training Aim to apply for research training
fellowship later this year fellowship later this year (Wellcome trust, MRC, CORE)(Wellcome trust, MRC, CORE)
Start PhD next year if successfulStart PhD next year if successful
What if I don’t obtain What if I don’t obtain funding or don’t like funding or don’t like
research?research? ACF trainee will rejoin non-academic ACF trainee will rejoin non-academic
clinical specialty training programme clinical specialty training programme If unsuccessful in obtaining fellowship If unsuccessful in obtaining fellowship
after 3 years after 3 years If no longer wishes to continue If no longer wishes to continue
researchresearch
An ACF does not representAn ACF does not represent
a commitment to a a commitment to a
PhD or academic careerPhD or academic career
Applying for an ACF - Applying for an ACF - EligibilityEligibility
Trainee must be eligible to apply for Trainee must be eligible to apply for specialty training post or already hold specialty training post or already hold SpR / StR postSpR / StR post
Not aimed at individuals with PhD Not aimed at individuals with PhD although not excluded although not excluded
Open to FTSTAsOpen to FTSTAs Applicants may also apply for non-Applicants may also apply for non-
academic specialty trainingacademic specialty training Part-time ACFs are an option; maximum Part-time ACFs are an option; maximum
of 5 yrsof 5 yrs
Application ProcessApplication Process
Described in detail on Described in detail on
NCCRCD website: NCCRCD website:
www.nccrcd.nhs.ukwww.nccrcd.nhs.uk//
Requirements:Requirements: Completed application formCompleted application form Ability to ‘demonstrate outstanding Ability to ‘demonstrate outstanding
potential as a clinical academic in potential as a clinical academic in research and/or education’research and/or education’
Academic referee Academic referee
Availability of ACF postsAvailability of ACF posts
Total 250 ACFs in 2008Total 250 ACFs in 2008 Spread across countrySpread across country Most specialties includedMost specialties included
Relatively few in Relatively few in
Gastroenterology – 30 ACFSGastroenterology – 30 ACFS
between 2006-2010 acrossbetween 2006-2010 across
6 centres6 centres
DeaneryDeanery InstitutionInstitution
NorthernNorthern NewcastleNewcastle
North WestNorth West ManchesterManchester
West West MidlandsMidlands
BirminghamBirmingham
East East MidlandsMidlands
NottinghamNottingham
LondonLondon Royal Free / UCLRoyal Free / UCL
Imperial CollegeImperial College
InstitutionInstitution Total Total over over 5yrs5yrs
20020066
20020077
20020088
20020099
20120100
Newcastle Newcastle 33 (Hep) (Hep) 11 00 11 00 11
ManchestManchester er
77 (GI) (GI) 11 11 11 22 22
BirminghaBirminghamm
22 (GI) (GI) 11 00 00 11 00
NottinghaNottinghamm
99 (GI) (GI) 22 22 11 22 22
Royal Royal Free/UCLFree/UCL
22 (GI,Hep(GI,Hep))
00 00 11 00 11
Imperial Imperial CollegeCollege
6 6 (GI) (GI)
11 (Hep) (Hep)22
0000
0022
1100
0022
00
Academic Clinical FellowshipsAcademic Clinical Fellowships
AdvantagesAdvantages
andand
DisadvantagesDisadvantages
Benefits of an ACF..Benefits of an ACF..
Juggling full-time clinical work with Juggling full-time clinical work with research is difficult research is difficult
ACF provides opportunity to continue ACF provides opportunity to continue
clinical training with dedicated research clinical training with dedicated research
time set asidetime set aside
More Benefits of an ACF..More Benefits of an ACF..
More informed decision prior to undertaking More informed decision prior to undertaking
higher research degreehigher research degree Acquisition of basic lab knowledge/skills Acquisition of basic lab knowledge/skills
allowing immediate commencement of project allowing immediate commencement of project
later later Strong position when applying for research Strong position when applying for research
training fellowshiptraining fellowship Established potential as clinical academicEstablished potential as clinical academic Project to be undertaken in major research Project to be undertaken in major research
centrecentre
Even More Benefits of an Even More Benefits of an ACF..ACF..
PublicationsPublications Attending / presenting atAttending / presenting at
academic meetingsacademic meetings NetworkingNetworking
Experience and skills gainedExperience and skills gainedwill be useful whateverwill be useful whateveryour future careeryour future career
Disadvantages of an ACFDisadvantages of an ACF
Less time for clinical training – Less time for clinical training –
a potentially greater problem in a potentially greater problem in
procedure-oriented specialtiesprocedure-oriented specialties
But training now competency But training now competency rather than time basedrather than time based
- - no longer a time-served no longer a time-served requirementrequirement
Disadvantages of an ACFDisadvantages of an ACF
Initial teething problems for first Initial teething problems for first
cohort of ACFs – cohort of ACFs –
lack of structure in research lack of structure in research settingsetting
unfamiliarity with scheme in unfamiliarity with scheme in
clinical settingclinical setting should improve with should improve with
experienceexperience
ACF – What Next?ACF – What Next? Option to resume non-academicOption to resume non-academic
clinical specialist trainingclinical specialist training
Apply for Clinical Lectureship (CL)Apply for Clinical Lectureship (CL) Part of integrated academic pathwayPart of integrated academic pathway 50% research, 50% clinical50% research, 50% clinical Requires prior completion of PhD Requires prior completion of PhD
or equivalentor equivalent Duration up to 4 yrsDuration up to 4 yrs
ACF – What Next?ACF – What Next? After Clinical Lectureship, may After Clinical Lectureship, may
proceed to Intermediate/Senior proceed to Intermediate/Senior Lectureship or Clinician Scientist Lectureship or Clinician Scientist FellowshipFellowship
Additional opportunities for career Additional opportunities for career progression through:progression through:NetworkingNetworkingPresentationsPresentationsPublicationsPublications
SummarySummary ACFs offer unique opportunity ACFs offer unique opportunity
to combine clinical and academic trainingto combine clinical and academic training Duration 3 yrs - 75% clinical; 25% Duration 3 yrs - 75% clinical; 25%
researchresearch Prepare trainee to undertake PhD/higher Prepare trainee to undertake PhD/higher
degreedegree May continue research as Clinical LecturerMay continue research as Clinical Lecturer Many additional opportunities:Many additional opportunities:
Publishing; conferences; networkingPublishing; conferences; networking Main disadvantage is reduction inMain disadvantage is reduction in
clinical training timeclinical training time
Questions?Questions?
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