NIHR Academic Training Programme Opportunities Available

Hull York Medical School has a number of training opportunities available through the NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Training Programme - providing healthcare professionals with the opportunity to develop skills for a career that combines clinical research and leadership alongside clinical practice.  

Professor Fliss Murtagh, Professor of Palliative Medicine at Hull York Medical School is Academic Training Programme Director. She says: 

‘In order that we can continue to develop new ways to diagnose, treat and care for patients we need doctors who are able to challenge existing methods and undertake research to develop new interventions. At Hull York Medical School we are committed to supporting doctors to develop their academic skills so that they might pursing their careers as senior clinical academics and ultimately undertake research which will make a lasting difference.’ 

The Medical School, in partnership with local NHS trusts and Health Education England Yorkshire, offer three opportunities to train as part of the NIHR Integrated Clinical Training Programme. The Academic Foundation Programme (AFP) which gives foundation doctors the opportunity to develop research, teaching and leadership/Management skills; the Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) which allow medical trainees at the early stages of their speciality training to undertake 25% research and 75% clinical training over three years; and Clinical Lectureships (CLs) which are awarded for up to four years to speciality trainees who have completed an MD or PhD and are at least a year prior to completing their training.  

Current opportunities available include Academic Clinical Fellowship and Clinical Lecturer roles in palliative and respiratory medicine; general, vascular and plastic surgery; and endocrinology. Dr Jamillia Hussain is currently undertaking an Academic Clinical Fellowship. She says: ‘I applied for an Academic Clinical Fellowship as I wanted to strengthen my knowledge and confidence in research methods and critical appraisal of research, so I could improve the care I provided for my patients. Since starting on the academic pathway, I have been provided with support, opportunities and excellent training to develop as a researcher, undertaking a PhD and now Clinical Lectureship. I have benefited from support to develop my own research ideas, to undertake national and international collaborations, and to lead change. In the future, I hope to use my experience to continue to grow as an independent clinical academic doing research that is focussed on improving care for patients not only locally, but worldwide.’

Hull York Medical School offers a stimulating and supportive environment in which to undertake academic training and research. The School’s clinical and academic researchers have a global reputation for their work which is advancing improvements in healthcare – diagnosis, treatment and care. From supporting individuals with life limiting illnesses and their families, to changing the way cancer is understood diagnosed and treated, to developing interventions to improve mental health and tackle addiction, and new scientific discoveries the Schools researchers across Hull and York are impacting local, national and international health agendas. Academic trainees also benefit from the expertise and support offered the Schools partner Universities, and a wide clinical base in which to study multiple aspects of health as a result of its partnership with regional NHS Trusts and community healthcare providers.  

For further information about the NIHR Academic Training Programme opportunities can be found at https://www.hyms.ac.uk/work-with-us/nihr-academic-training-programme-opportunities or contact ATPadministration@hyms.ac.uk Applications close at 16.00 on 4 November 2020.