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Clinical Academic Careers for Doctors and Dentists

The many organisations involved in clinical academic training were brought together towards the end of 2004 in a joint Academic Careers Subcommittee of Modernising Medical Careers and the UKCRC, chaired by Dr Mark Walport.
 
Following much negotiation and a major public consultation, consensus was reached on a clear and integrated pathway through which junior doctors and dentists can combine research and education with a clinical career. The Subcommittee Report was published in March 2005. Funding for key elements of this scheme was negotiated as part of the process.
 

The broad outline of the new career pathways is illustrated below:

Integrated academic training path for researchers
 
Integratd Academic Training Path for Researchers
 
 
Integrated academic training path for educationalists
 
Integrated Academic Training Path for Educationalists
 
 
The report’s recommendations have now been implemented, with training schemes launched for the Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) and Clinical Lectureship (CL) phase of the training pathway, as well as a scheme for Clinical Senior Lectureships (CSLs).
 

The first round of competitions to host ACFs and CLs was launched in October 2005 in England and Wales. July 2006 saw the launch of the second round, which targeted specialties that are endangered in terms of clinical and academic capacity, and geographical gaps that were identified in the first round. The recruitment process for 2008 ACF posts has now been launched.

The first round of CSLs was announced in July 2006 and the first lectureship posts were taken up in September of that year. A second round of awards for new CSLs was announced in May 2007, and a third round was launched in November 2007, with a deadline for applications of 1 February 2008.

If you are interested in applying for an ACF, CL or CSL, further details and news updates on the integrated academic training scheme can be found on the websites of the National Coordinating Centre for Research Capacity Development (for ACFs and CLs) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (for the CSLs).

Available downloads:
  • PowerPoint slides - gives an overview of the integrated academic training pathway
  • Opportunities for Charities Leaflet - explains the opportunities for charities in the new clinical research environment, including the integrated academic training pathway
  • UKCRC/AMRC Charities Workshop Leaflet - summarises the March 2007 joint workshop on the opportunities and challenges presented by the integrated academic training pathway for medical research charities