I completed my undergraduate dental degree (BDS) at the Bristol Dental School (University of Bristol) in 2018. I had always enjoyed the research component to the degree and following the completion of an elective project contributing to a systematic review in robotic surgery implementation, I was awarded an INSPIRE Summer Studentship.
I was funded to work on a project in the Bristol Centre for Surgical Research at Bristol Medical School. After completion of this project, I presented the findings at a conference and was an author on the resulting publication. This initial experience, was a great starting step into a clinical academic career, it made me realise I hugely enjoyed research, and this placement has been instrumental in my career development to date.
Following graduation, I undertook dental foundation training and the first year of dental core training in the South West. I really enjoyed clinical work, and knew at this stage I was keen to specialise in Restorative Dentistry, but I also wanted to find a way to combine clinical training with engaging with research. In 2020 I was successful in applying for an NIHR funded Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) post to continue my dental core training, and start academic training, with a view to submit an application for an externally funded research fellowship. The ACF provided me with funding and time to both continue my core training, while gaining new research skills, and work on a variety of projects to identify an area of research I was passionate about developing further.
In 2022, following a competitive application and interview round, I was fortunate to be awarded an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship, to allow me to undertake my PhD after completing my final year of core training. I am currently completing my PhD at Bristol Dental School, where my research focuses on using epidemiological and health services research methods to investigate dental caries in children with a cleft lip and/or palate. I spend four days a week undertaking the research and relevant training to support my academic development, while I continue to work clinically one day a week in my chosen speciality of Restorative Dentistry. The fellowship provides me with funding to match my clinical salary, the costs associated with the project, and a budget for training and development, including an overseas research secondment.
Following the completion of my PhD I aim to continue my clinical academic journey, combining post-doctoral research with higher speciality training in Restorative Dentistry as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer. Being able to combine clinical work with research is hugely rewarding, and has provided me with a huge number of exciting experiences and opportunities, supporting both my academic and my clinical development. It can of course be challenging balancing clinical and academic demands, but the NIHR pathway enables people with little research experience, to develop into independent clinician scientists in a supportive and collegiate environment. I would encourage anyone interested to speak to current ACFs, PhD students and ACLs about their respective journeys.