1. Opportunities for Academic Public Health
Dr Jennifer Mindell
Educational Supervisor, UCL
Dept. Epidemiology & Public Health, UCL
24th September 2009

2. Introduction to the day
Welcome
Types of academic posts and attachments
Specialty training in London / KSS
Which post is right for me?
How do I get it?
Range of locations in London / KSS
Final words
Networking

3. Types of academic posts and attachments
NIHR (Walport) Academic Clinical Fellows
NIHR (Walport) Clinical Lecturers
Attachment during general public health training
Attachment during Academic F2 / SEM / GP training

4. NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows
Purpose
Start specialist training in Public health (ST1)
Spend 25% of time in academe
Apply for PhD funding or post-doc fellowship

5. NIHR Clinical Lecturers
Purpose
Complete specialist training in Public health (ST2+)
Spend 50% of time in academe
Build CV as independent researcher / educator
Apply for Post-doc fellowship or senior lecturer post

6. Attachment during general public health training
Purpose
Continue specialist training in Public health (ST3+)
Spend a period of time in academe
To fill gaps in CV eg obtain publications
To meet missing RITA competencies eg complex data handling
Taster session for academic work
Apply for PhD funding

7. Attachment during Academic F2 / GP training / Sports & Exercise Medicine
Purpose
Spend a period of time in academe
Taster session for academic work
Taster session for public health / epidemiology
To meet missing RITA competencies eg data handling
To fill gaps in CV eg obtain publications

8. Which post is right for me – and how do I get it?

9. NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows

10. Academic Clinical Fellows: Content of post
Masters – usually in PH at LSHTM or Imperial
25% academic / 75% NHS PH training
Pass Part A MFPH
Writing papers, presenting research, teaching
Fellowship application

11. Academic Clinical Fellows - Eligibility
Must be medically qualified and registered with the GMC
Must be eligible for general public health training
At least 12 months post-reg supervised clinical work (eg F2)
Meet Foundation competencies or evidence of equivalent
‘good enough’ to be accepted onto the general PH training scheme
Can have a PhD or MD if not already on PH training
But not always eligible – need to check
Can be an existing PH trainee if no PhD / MD

12. Academic Clinical Fellows What we’re looking for
Evidence of academic achievement
Prizes, awards, degrees
Evidence of research ability / potential
publication(s), especially peer-reviewed papers
presentation(s) at national conferences
Evidence of numeracy and literacy
Evidence of interest in PH / Epidemiology / Health service research
Understanding of the posts

13. ACFs – Who should NOT apply
Those with no interest in or aptitude for an academic career
Those who do not wish to undertake a PhD or MD
The general public health training provides opportunities to obtain all the relevant knowledge and skills for public health work. Do not apply for an ACF post in the mistaken belief that it is needed to pass MFPH or to acquire all PH specialist training competencies.

14. ACFs – then what? Obtain PhD funding
Temporarily leave the training scheme while working for PhD (OOP-R)
Decide don’t want / not suited academic career
Change to fully on general public health training scheme (give notice)
PhD funding not (yet) obtained
Change to fully on general public health training scheme until CCT or funding arrives or further application successful

15. Recruitment: ACFs ACF posts to start August 2010
Imperial x3
LSHTM x1
UCL x1: EPH
(None in UCL IPH nor King’s this time)
Advertised BMJ & Deanery website 2 Nov 09;
closing date 4 Nov 09; interviews ?18 Dec09
Application pack will be on London Deanery website:
follow link to Specialist Training
(I’m guessing)

16. NIHR (Walport) Clinical Lecturers

17. NIHR (Walport) Clinical Lecturers: Content
Complete PhD/MD if not already obtained
50% academic / 50% NHS PH training
Pass Part B MFPH if not already obtained
Writing papers, presenting research, teaching
Fellowship application
Posts approved:
Imperial: 1 pa 2006 – 2010:
UCL: 1 pa 2006 – EPH or IPH
King’s: 1 pa 2009 & 2010

18. Training in another clinical specialty
The UCL clinical lecturer post will be 50% academic public health / clinical epidemiology / health services research or infectious diseases epidemiology
The 50% NHS specialist training can be undertaken in public health
OR may be able to be undertaken in another clinical specialty, subject to funding

19. NIHR Clinical Lecturers: Eligibility
Must:
be medically qualified and registered with the GMC
have PhD or MD or be within 6mths of submission
have spent at least 12 months on a specialist training scheme
have passed 1st part of Faculty or relevant Royal College exam

20. Recruitment: Clinical lecturers
Each medical school advertises separately:
UCL: 2009 & 2010 posts not yet advertised
Imperial: 2009 & 2010 posts not yet advertised
King’s:
Adverts in BMJ
Application pack on London Deanery website or from medical school

21. Attachment during general public health training

22. Attachment during general public health training
Duration and content of attachment by agreement
Open to all trainees on general PH training scheme, if appropriate
Can be used by non-medics to have support for PhD funding applications
Mostly used by people intending NHS career
Any academic PH dept in London / KSS

23. Attachment during general public health training
Informal discussion between the trainee, current trainer, potential project supervisor and educational supervisor
what the trainee wants / needs to achieve
what opportunities are available
Attachments can only be formally arranged and agreed by the Training Programme Director
Generally for 12 months but can be shorter (occasionally longer)

24. Recruitment to general public health training scheme
For both medics and non-medics
January 2010
Via Deaneries (no MTAS)
Advertised ?BMJ ?HSJ and on London Deanery website
National assessment centres prior to shortlisting for interview

25. Attachment during Academic F2 / SEM / GP training

26. Attachment during Academic F2 / SEM / GP training
Similar to attachments during general PH training but generally shorter and doing simpler work
Need to make contact and plan in advance to identify suitable project / time / supervisor

27. Recruitment: Attachments
Speak to your TPD and to us

28. Recruitment: General If you don’t apply, you won’t be appointed
But don’t apply for posts you’re not suited for or don’t want
If you don’t follow the instructions, it will make life difficult (eg application form vs CV)
To be shortlisted:
You must meet all the essential criteria
You need evidence of some of the ‘desirables’
If you don’t tell us on the form, we won’t know
GOOD LUCK!