Name:
Andrea Woolner
Year:
ST 3 or 4 Registrar
Speciality:
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Why SCREDS?
SCREDS has enabled me to integrate my academic and clinical training. The experience has allowed me to develop my organisational, time management and research skills. The protected research time has enabled me to embark on a part-time Masters degree in Health Services Research and Public Health. I regularly engage with other researchers and I am an active member of the Academic Obstetrics and Gynaecology research group. I have published research papers and a clinical review paper as first author, as well as a Cochrane review as co-author over the last year. I have developed links with external collaborators, and been involved in local research skills training as well as a national journal club. I have started to gain experience of applying for funding for research. I am actively involved with local undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. I am also progressing well through my competency based clinical training.
Are you enjoying it?
I am enjoying the balance of academic and clinical commitments.
What support have you been given?
I feel very supported both by my academic and clinical supervisors to pursue my goals and to ensure I receive adequate training. I feel the SCREDS post has been an essential step to nurture my desire to progress as a clinical academic and to position myself to apply a for a competitive PhD fellowship in the future.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to apply for a competitive PhD fellowship in the future.
What are the pros/cons of taking this route?
I was appointed as a SCREDS Clinical lecturer at the University of Aberdeen in 2013 in my second year of specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology within the North of Scotland Deanery. Having now completed my first 12 months I feel the experience has been hugely beneficial to me. The protected research time has enabled me to embark on a part-time Masters degree in Health Services Research and Public Health. I regularly engage with other researchers and I am an active member of the Academic Obstetrics and Gynaecology research group. I have published research papers and a clinical review paper as first author, as well as a Cochrane review as co-author over the last year. I have developed links with external collaborators, and been involved in local research skills training as well as a national journal club. I have started to gain experience of applying for funding for research. I am actively involved with local undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. I am also progressing well through my competency based clinical training and I am enjoying the balance of academic and clinical commitments.
SCREDS has enabled me to integrate my academic and clinical training. The experience has allowed me to develop my organisational, time management and research skills. I am beginning to establish myself as an academic and I feel confident that the scheme will position me well in my future goal to apply for a period out of programme to undertake a PhD. I feel very supported both by my academic and clinical supervisors to pursue my goals and to ensure I receive adequate training. I feel the SCREDS post has been an essential step to nurture my desire to progress as a clinical academic and to position myself to apply a for a competitive PhD fellowship in the future.