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.
About the unit
We have 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 and research theme workshops for our diverse group of clinical and non-clinical primary care researchers and teachers, and undergraduate and postgraduate research students. We contribute to and benefit from other groups and areas of expertise 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.
Current areas of research activity include
- persistent physical symptoms
- epilepsy
- cancer
- lung health
- mental health
- sexual and reproductive health
Academic clinical fellow post-holders are supported to identify and conduct projects linked to departmental research projects or to medical education research and development. 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 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 towards a PGCertRes. 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 and carrying out a project under the supervision of a senior primary care academic.
We encourage academic clinical fellows to experience different skills and approaches at this stage so that they develop a broad theoretical base. We aim to match their clinical interests to existing programmes in order that they work within an expert team. Our aim is that by the end of the fellowship, fellows 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.
Academic clinical lecturers (ACLs) will also be supervised by a senior academic 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 a post-doctoral research 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.
Staff
Enquires about the Sheffield posts should be directed to the following staff:
