Allied Health Professional Clinical Academics share their stories and experiences as part of new project

Dr Lindsey Cherry and Dr Louise Johnson have shared their stories and experiences as Allied Health Professional (AHP) Clinical Academics as part of a new project aiming to showcase career paths and provide honest insights into life in clinical academia.

Clinical academics are active healthcare professionals who also work in a university, conducting research and training the next generation of clinicians.

AHP clinical academics make a profound difference across the UK's health and social care system. Their work influences clinical practice, improves services, informs policy, and ultimately changes patient outcomes.

However, AHP practitioners are often under-represented as clinical academics, compared with those from traditional medical pathways, and the contribution AHP clinical academics make to the UK’s research landscape remains limited.

Supported by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship Development Network, a team at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) and the University of Lancashire have worked with AHP clinical academics from across the UK to create a series of digital stories to share their experiences and encourage others to consider careers in clinical academia.

These stories – including Lindsey and Louise’s – are now available on YouTube .

Dr Lindsey Cherry , who works as a podiatrist in primary care alongside her role as an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences, said: “AHPs make a significant contribution across the front line of health and care services; from this perspective, they have unique insight about challenges and opportunities that might not be known about or explored otherwise.

“AHP contribution to health and care research is vital to unlocking future innovations that will make a difference to people.”

She added: “Podiatry is a relatively small profession, so I wanted to be involved in the project to represent my colleagues but also all AHPs who might not consider that a clinical academic career is for them and to highlight that it could be.”

Dr Louise Johnson , a Principal Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences and Consultant Physiotherapist in Stroke at University Hospitals Dorset, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how valuable it is to have people who can bridge academia and frontline practice, so I wanted to help make that pathway more visible and accessible.

“Clinical academic careers give AHPs the opportunity to ask the questions that really matter to practice, and then help turn the answers into meaningful change. AHPs are still underrepresented in clinical academia, and I’d love to see that change.”

Despite major investment from UK health and care research funders to diversify clinical academia, significant barriers remain to building and maintaining clinical academic careers. These range from balancing clinical and research responsibilities to managing joint NHS-university appointments.

Project lead, Professor Katie Sheehan at QMUL, said: “The stories in this collection showcase individuals who have successfully navigated clinical academic careers, often overcoming significant obstacles along the way. They highlight innovative research, meaningful collaborations, and tangible patient benefits positively impacting our healthcare system.

“Most importantly, these stories demonstrate what can be achieved when talented clinicians are given the opportunity to combine research with clinical practice.”

For Louise and Lindsey, their clinical academic roles offer the opportunity to directly influence practice and work on new ideas and innovations.

Louise said: “I love that I get to be curious for a living!  I get to be part of a brilliant academic community, stay closely connected to frontline practice, and develop research around the things that really matter.”

Lindsey added: “My favourite thing is the variety – no two days or weeks look the same. I love being able to talk with patients and colleagues about their ideas and then be able to translate these into research.”

Find out more about the project

If you are interested in pursuing a career as an AHP clinical academic, our MSc Advanced Clinical Practice (Advanced Allied Health Practitioner) or MRes Clinical and Health Research courses could be for you.

Develop the skills and expertise for a successful clinical academic career, with part-time study options allowing you to continue working in practice alongside your degree.