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?