Early careers working group

SAPC is committed to supporting primary care researchers throughout their career and especially at the earlier stages. We have an early career academic working group, comprised of members of the SAPC executive committee, and external members, both clinical and primary healthcare scientists, researchers and educationalists. We work as a group to ensure that SAPC addresses the challenges facing early career academics in primary care. The group is led by Dr Helen Atherton.

Early Career Interviews

Working group members:

SAPC executive members

  • Dr Helen Atherton, University of Oxford
  • Dr Ben Brown, University of Manchester
  • Dr Greg Irving, University of Cambridge
  • Dr Nathan Hill, University of Oxford

External members

  • Dr Jenni Burt, University of Cambridge
  • Dr Ceire Costelloe, Queen Mary University of London
  • Dr Sophie Park, UCL
  • Lily Lai, University of Southampton

The group is currently working on several strategies to improve careers in primary care for those in early careers. These include:

  • Standardising opportunities for early career academics across institutions by devising a ‘gold standard’ guide endorsed by SAPC, to ensure development opportunities.
  • Information and support in gaining independence as a researcher.
  • Improved mentoring opportunities to achieve consistency across groups; clinical and Phocus.
  • Networking opportunities and events with people at the same level to facilitate both collaboration and support.

Additional to this ongoing work SAPC already supports early career academics in several ways:

  • Membership of a large organisation with a nationwide reputation and a growing international reputation.
  • Regional and National conferences offering networking opportunities and prizes for early career researchers.
  • Bursaries for first time attendees at the conferences.
  • Parallel meetings for ECAs and buddying scheme for first time attendees.
  • Consistent primary care presence when moving between institutions and posts.
  • Access to special interest groups.
  • Cross over with work by PHoCUS group to tackle career pathways.
  • Access to mentoring scheme (PHoCUS)
  • Representation for clinical academics at relevant national organisations (e.g. RCGP, BMA)
  • Regular newsletters which advertises training opportunities and vacancies in primary care, along with other relevant news and information.

Please feel free to contact us about the group, SAPC in general or anything else.