ASSOCIATED PROJECTS

Conveying statistics and research methods to surgeons and improving PROMs (patient reported outcome measures)

I studied graduate-entry medicine at Warwick, where I started working in research improving patient outcome measures. Prior to this, I was part of a lab-based neurosciences research group during my undergraduate course at the University of Cambridge.

I hoped to continue academic medicine and learned of the ASFP by reaching out to academics at the University of Oxford who were also working on patient outcome measures. I was keen to apply for the ASFP as it gives you the opportunity to explore new academic research areas whilst being well supported by an academic supervisor.

My ASFP included day-release in FY1 and a 4-month academic block in FY2.

I had two fantastic supervisors during my ASFP. They supported me in up-skilling in research skills, such as coding, production of original research and knowledge dissemination. They also worked with me to find opportunities for outputs that would benefit both myself and the research team.

I worked on various different projects. I worked alongside the editorial board of The Journal of Hand Surgery (Eur) to produce two commissioned papers in a series on statistics and research methodology for surgeons. I also worked within the patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) research lab to produce three original papers using AI to improve outcome measurement in surgery. These papers have since been published and the results have been disseminated by myself at national conferences.

I also delivered teaching sessions to prospective ASFP students on applications, interview tips, and general academic skills such as critical appraisal.

I initially chose Oxford for ASFP as there was an established research group here in the area of academic medicine I was interested in. I was also attracted to the ASFP in Oxford because of the autonomy given to ASFP candidates to choose your own project.

There is an abundance of research across the medical departments and within the University of Oxford itself. Many senior academics are really keen to get ASFP trainees involved, and I have found everyone to be very welcoming and supportive.

Pros: so much…! There are so many brilliant mentors at Oxford, and having a supportive academic supervisor opens up many opportunities in your early academic career. The ASFP at Oxford gives you dedicated time to focus on your research, access to courses and a study budget, university facilities and resources, and the extremely helpful OUCAGS team!

Cons: very few…! Even with the dedicated research time, if you have a proactive educational supervisor, you may find that you are doing academic work in your spare time. However, setting boundaries around this and working efficiently with good time management will help you with this.

I wish to continue with academic medicine and am aiming to apply for Academic Clinical Fellowships at ST3.

November 2024