Integrating research into your clinical practice
With Dr Cariad Evans
As a junior doctor fuelled by the desire to travel, Cariad undertook a Diploma in Tropical Medicine before working in general medicine and infectious diseases in Madagascar and Uganda. She entered the world of research through the door of clinically based research. She was able to take two years out of her clinical practice to focus on a research project and was funded for her MD via the charity Meningitis UK. Writing her thesis in her spare time after she returned to clinical training and practice was a challenging time when family life was also very demanding.
Her research interests were built during a period when two pandemics, swine flu and COVID-19, meant that her expertise was in high demand. The context has offered her extraordinary opportunities to contribute to the development of molecular rapid response diagnostic tools and personal protective equipment management.
Cariad chose to work entirely as a consultant and did not join the tribe of clinical academics. Her perception of the pressures for grant funding captures and research impact measures that clinical academics experience through their academic appointments made this type of position less attractive to her. Cariad chose not to be put off research by the university drivers but to engage in research on her terms, albeit in her own time. This created a space of freedom where she was able to engage in projects she felt passionate about.
Research has remained an integral part of what she does. Continuing to be involved in research activities following the MD period has meant doing a lot of work on the side, in addition to her full clinical job. Getting this to work has often meant accessing funding to recruit people who can be involved in doing the research. Cariad has also been interested in enabling others, like nurses, to get involved in developing their knowledge through being involved in research projects.
She shares that even though there is not always a perfect way to be acknowledged in the NHS for the research work that consultants may be involved in, the rewards for this work activity are very different. For her, the Covid pandemic has meant joining a sub-committee of SAGE, which advised the government during the pandemic. Being invited to these government advisory committees and contributing at such a high policy development level has been rewarding. Influencing clinical practice, particularly system improvement, is a massive driver in her professional commitments.
Creating the balance for all these activities is always a battle. Her approach to balancing these has evolved over the years. Her strategies have been about fostering her patience, finding mentors who have a decent work-life balance, assessing when she is the most productive, prioritising important research tasks in advance and blocking time. She has kept a focus on getting involved in projects where she feels passionate about the topic but also projects where she is clear about the big-picture impact of what the work will change. An essential support for her over the years has been to work in a healthy collaborative environment with colleagues who you trust and who believe in you.
When you are a consultant doing research on the side, much of your work and contribution may somehow remain hidden from colleagues/ peers. Cariad shares that it was through feedback discussions during an annual review that she realised how much she was contributing. With insight, Cariad shares that talking more often to others about being research-active as a consultant might be a good thing. Being research-active in medical and health-allied professions can take many different forms. Getting those who are research-active to share their way of navigating that space could entice others to find their own paths to maintain involvement in research in ways that will work for them. HR and talent policy development within the NHS has probably a fair bit of improvement needed in creating reward and career path structures for those involved in research.
More about Cariad
Dr Cariad Evans is a virology consultant for the NHS, as well as an infectious diseases specialist. After a period of working in Africa, Cariad returned to the UK to work as a consultant. A corridor conversation with a senior colleague kick-started her engagement in doing research via an MD. The recent pandemics have been fertile grounds to contribute to research, as well as impact national policy decisions.
Listening to our conversation will prompt your thinking:
Do you know your motivation and drive to stay involved in research post-PhD or MD once you return to full-time clinical practice or training?
When looking at different formulas for keeping your research going- full clinical practice with research on the side, part-time clinical and part-time research or any other possible combinations, what feels most manageable, achievable or exciting?
What is going to fuel your desire and interest to remain research-active: a brilliant collaborative team, the pressure to access research funding to answer challenging questions, a mentor who believes you are bringing a unique set of skills/ expertise and perspective, a topic that you feel passionate about addressing, and/or a drive to create systemic change?
“it’s important to recognize where you are in life and what time you have and resilience you can give to it.”
