building ahp capacity for research an example from an nihr research professor
TRANSCRIPT
Building AHP Capacity for Research: an example from an NIHR Professor
Nadine FosterNIHR Professor of Musculoskeletal Health in Primary Care
Clinical Research
• Context– Of physiotherapy research
development• Personal experience
– My story• Tips
– For career planning
Clinical Research
Context – in physiotherapy ‘Emergent profession’ First degrees - 1979 2 physiotherapists with PhDs All degree entry – 1993 Idea of a ‘research career’ is
relatively new Many PhDs conducted through
other more academic disciplines
Context – in physiotherapy ‘Punching above our weight’ Working at all levels
Assisting research Carrying out research as an individual or
team member Conducting research projects Leading research teams Developing and managing research
programmes 1st meeting of UK professoriat
46 professors in 2011 53 professors in 2016 0.1% of profession
Personal experience
Personal experience
Personal experience• 1996 – my first year of change
– Early disappointment– Opportunity ‘abroad’
• 1996-2000 - early post-doc years – Wearing many hats
Highlights from this time
Personal experience• 1996 – year of change 1
– Early disappointment– Opportunity ‘abroad’
• 1996-2000 - early post-doc years • Strategic collaborations and another move
– Realising where I needed to be • People • Institution
Keele University
Teaching and research Professional activities Research
- Increasing involvement in research with the Primary Care Research Centre
Personal experience• 1996 – year of change 1• 1996-2000 - early post-doc years • Strategic collaborations and another move• 2000-2004 - Increasing focus on research
– Number of projects, PhD students, grant writing, publications...– Increasing involvement with a dedicated research centre
• Visionary leadership• Great infrastructure for research• Excellent teams
2004 – year of change 2
Personal experience• 1996 – year of change 1• 1996-2000 - early post-doc years • 2004 – year of change 2• 2004-2009 - Dedicated research role
– ‘Galvanised’ success• Research activity• Publications• Grants• Collaborations• Building AHP research capacity
Highlights from this time
Building AHP capacity Clinical academics
AHPs, nurses and doctors Academics
AHPs and methodologists Clinical research facilitation
AHPs and doctors Local MSK CAT group
Hub and spoke model
Personal experience• 1996 – year of change 1• 1996-2000 - early post-doc years • Strategic collaborations and another move• 2004 – year of change 2• 2004-2009 - Dedicated research role• 2009-2016 - Further growth and success
– Promotion to Professor– Increased leadership roles– NIHR Research Professorship 2012-2017
NIHR ‘hats’• NIHR supports > 360 personal fellowships and > 4,000 NIHR trainees • NIHR Health Research Mentor, Deputy Chair of HEE/NIHR ICA panel• NIHR Academic Training Advocates
– a cohort of proactive researchers working as ambassadors for health research careers, supporting and advocating for non-medical professions
NIHR Advocates• NIHR Academic Training Advocates
– http://www.nihr.ac.uk/our-faculty/academic-training-advocates.htm
Psychology Lead: Professor Richard G Brown, Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, MaudsleyAudiology Lead: Dr Melanie Ferguson, Honorary Associate Professor and Research Lead, NIHR Nottingham Hearing Biomedical Research UnitPhysiotherapy Lead: Professor Nadine Foster, Musculoskeletal Health in Primary Care, Keele University Dietetics and nutrition Co-Lead: Professor Gary Frost, Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics Imperial College London. Co-Lead Dr Steve Wootton, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, SouthamptonPodiatry Lead: Professor Anne-Maree Keenan, Assistant Director NIHR Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, LeedsNursing Lead: Professor David Richards, Mental Health Services Research, University of Exeter Midwifery Lead: Professor Jane Sandall, Professor of Social Science and Women’s Health, King’s College London Occupational therapy Lead: Professor Marion Walker, Stroke Rehabilitation, University of Nottingham
Tip 1
Find out what you really want to do....
and be tenacious about doing it...
Tip 2
Work with good people....in terms of - their ability (of course!)
but also
- their willingness to support you
Tip 3
Write papers & grants- Important ‘indicators’ of research
Enables
- you to develop
- you to develop others
Tip 4
Secure dedicated time for research (eg. a fellowship)
- with a unit that matches your needs
Facilitates - Dedicated time to focus
- Further knowledge and skills
- Networking
Tip 5
Work with a mentor- External to your team/Institution
Facilitates
- Periodic reflection on your career
- External benchmarking of your CV and future plans
Tip 6
See your career as a continuumIt needs to be- ‘Sufficiently focused’ yet ‘flexible’
- Taking ‘the long view’ yet with a series of ‘short views’
- Interspersed with ‘years of change’