SAPC has instigated a number of initiatves to support the careers of primary care academics. We have groups dedicated to supporting the needs of academic GPs, non-clinical members (Primary Healthcare Scientists - PHoCuS members), Early Career Academics, and a new piece of work lookiing at GPs with extended roles that include scholarship. We run career development workshops, a mentorship scheme, as well as offering a range of prizes. We are now developing a new role - the SAPC Ambassador role - offering opportunities for people to join the work we are doing whilst developing new skills and career opportunities.

We have a mentoring scheme for academics that allows us to help enhance your career. Details of the mentors and their areas of interest are described

Together with Christine Bond , I lead the SAPC Primary Health Care Scientists (PHoCuS) group to provide focus for and support non-medically qualified members of the Society. The request for this group to be established came from two medically qualified SAPC members - Professor Helen Lester and Professor Peter Croft. We have to thank both of them for helping us establish the group, Helen for her vision and belief in the added value PHoCuS members brought to APC and Peter for identifying a start-up fund of £5k. Annual scientific meetings We organise PHoCuS meetings at the SAPC Annual Scientific...

The heads of teaching of general practice and primary care in medical schools in the UK and Ireland

The heads of departments of general practice and primary care in medical schools in the UK and Ireland

Academic primary care offers solutions to the complex problems facing today's primary care. In 2013, SAPC set out a new strategic plan to maximise the impact of our discipline in driving improvement in primary care through scholarship.

SAPC is leading a work stream, in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) who are committed to supporting research active general practice ( see document ‘RCGP: The 2022 GP. A Vision for General Practice in the Future NHS’ ). The work stream aims to understand and develop the eGP role and is keen to work in partnership with the wider primary care community.

Speaking to the media can be a particularly effective method to allow your research to reach thousands or even millions of people, through TV, press, blogs and social media. It offers unique opportunities to create public awareness of an issue, help promote informed debate around a topic, raise the profile of work to funding bodies and decision-makers, increase the impact of the research and it may even encourage the next generation of scientists.

The SAPC has strong links with a number of international academic primary care organisations around the world and is open to international membership