Non-medical or dental clinical academics (includes nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists and healthcare scientists) combine research and clinical practice by working in higher education institutions (HEIs) and being clinically active. The Council of Deans of Health report summarises the development of clinical academic research careers for these professions (sometimes called NMAHPs) in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. Their role within the NHS and social care, often the first point of contact and patient focused, allows these professions to play a critical role in delivering high quality research and driving innovation in patient care.
Clinical Academic Roles and Career Pathways Implementation Network
The Healthcare Professionals Clinical Academic Roles and Career Pathways Implementation Network (CARIN) aims to advise, support and share innovation and best practice of activity that promotes, engages and evaluates the development and implementation of joint clinical academic roles for healthcare professionals (excluding doctors and dentists).
The career pathway
There has been a transformation in the national research funding landscape to support and develop clinical academic research for nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists and healthcare scientists. The development of targeted funding opportunities for these health professions, such as the NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) pathway has contributed in supporting research careers within these groups. However there is no one route into clinical academia nor is there one starting point. The training route is flexible and interchangeable and while much of this section discusses research-focused clinical academic roles through one available career pathway, many clinical academics will continue to develop their careers through a range of opportunities. In addition to careers in research, clinical academics within other health professions make a valuable contribution to the development of knowledge and skills through teaching.
Further reading