Academic clinical fellowships in general practice (primary care)

Academic primary care at the University of Sheffield is based in the School of Medicine and Population Health. Research takes place in the Division of Population Health, the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR), and Medical Education within the Division of Clinical Medicine.

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About the unit

The Primary Care Research Group has a strong track record of early career clinical academic posts in primary care research and an expanding portfolio in medical education.

The Primary Care Research Group offers an excellent environment for integrated clinical academic training, with a weekly seminar programme for our diverse group of clinical and non-clinical primary care researchers, and undergraduate and postgraduate research students. We contribute to and benefit from the expertise of other groups within SCHARR.

Our research

Our research seeks to understand and improve the way the primary care health service works for patients. We have expertise in a wide range of important problems in primary care and all our work is strongly informed by principles of health equity and of person-centred care. You can find more details including our research themes and our staff at the Primary Care Research Group webpage.

Academic clinical fellows (ACFs) are supported to identify and conduct projects linked to our research projects. Within these broad topics, we use a wide range of methodologies and the post-holders are encouraged to use and understand a range of qualitative and quantitative methods. We encourage fellows to engage with interdisciplinary programmes of work and begin to build their own networks of collaboration.

Programme

The first two years of the academic clinical fellow (ACF) speciality training programme involve standard GP training in hospital training posts in South Yorkshire, with some time to attend research or teaching based sessions, and an NIHR academic bursary to support research modules in SCHARR. In the third and fourth years, trainees are attached to a general training practice in the Sheffield area with 50% of their time devoted to clinical training and 50% to research training in the Primary Care Research Group and carrying out a project under the supervision of a senior academic.

We encourage academic clinical fellows to experience different methods and approaches at this stage so that they develop a broad base. We aim to match their clinical interests to our existing research themes. Our aim is that by the end of the fellowship, ACFs can make informed choices about their preferred methodologies and topics and are well-placed to take these forward to apply for an in-practice or doctoral fellowship.

ACLs in General Practice will already have completed their clinical training and a PhD. ACL posts are split 50:50 between clinical and academic work. They will integrate further academic and clinical development at a point where the post-holders should be aiming to embark on a career as independent researchers. Academic clinical lecturers (ACLs) will be supervised by a senior academic during the Lectureship in developing a distinctive, personal research portfolio. This should lead to the acquisition of research funding, the strengthening of their publication record, and ultimately developing an application for funding for a senior academic post.