Academic F2
JOB DESCRIPTION
Research Training with Academic Training Opportunities
4 month rotation (one post)
Paediatrics
Lead Academic: Professor M Shields
Location
 School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at the Royal Hospital campus
 Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
Background
This is a 4 month ‘stand-alone’ academic F2 rotation, as envisaged in the ‘Report of the
Academic Careers Sub-committee of MMC and UKCRC’ March 2005. By undertaking
an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic paediatric
medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University
scientific staff and postgraduate research students.
The post aims to offer the F2 trainee the opportunity to explore their potential interest in
a research / educational career in paediatric medicine
Structure of the post
1. Supervision:
On commencement the trainee will be assigned supervisors for both the teaching and
research components of the rotation. Research and educational plans will be formulated
following an initial appraisal meeting. Subsequently, the trainee will have a weekly
meeting with the supervisors to ensure that the specific learning outcomes and
milestones are being achieved. In addition, the trainee will attend university meetings,
and present significant sections of their work (e.g. innovation in teaching, research
proposal etc)
2. Teaching Component
During the rotation, the trainee will be expected to:
 Develop their knowledge of educational theory relevant to medicine. A reading
scheme will be provided by their supervisor.
 Participate in the delivery of clinical skills and large-group teaching in the ‘core
teaching’ phase of the 4th year undergraduate paediatric programme
 Participate in small-group and bedside teaching of 4th year students in RBHSC
 Assist in planning and observe an undergraduate clinical examination
 Organise 2 ‘peer-reviews’ of their teaching
 Complete a structured reflective note about 2 teaching sessions to which they have
contributed
 Develop 2 eLearning self-assessment exercises in paediatric medicine, to be
included in the QUB Child Health eLearning resource (or implement another
innovation in paediatric teaching after discussion with their supervisor)
3. Research Component
During the rotation, the trainee will, with the guidance and advice of their supervisor:
 Formulate a research question relevant to child health (suggestions will be provided
by the supervisor)
 Complete a literature search relating to this question
 Discuss the proposal with the Clinical Research Centre for advice on best study
design



Design a research study to answer the clinical question and present the proposal to
their supervisor
Write a research proposal for the Research Governance Committee (Woman & Child
Health Division, Belfast trust) and ORECNI
Attend a GCP workshop.
In addition there will be the opportunity to visit the Respiratory Research laboratories
and even to get some ‘hands on’ laboratory research experience.
4. Clinical Component
The trainee will attend 1-2 outpatient clinics per week (eg paediatric respiratory medicine
and endocrinology), and 2 clinical meetings per week (RBHSC Tuesday Grand Round,
RBHSC weekly respiratory meeting). He / she will be expected to see new and review
patients. Clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment will be provided according to the
Foundation Programme Curriculum.
Provisional Timetable
a.m.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9am Weekly
meeting with
supervisor
Endocrinology
clinic
Respiratory
Clinic
Undergraduate
teaching
Research
Project /
teaching
preparation
12 noon
Respiratory
meeting
RBHSC
Lunch: RBHSC
Grand Round
Research
Project
CPD for
foundation
doctors
Research
Project
p.m
Teaching
preparation
Undergraduate
teaching.
4pm Respiratory
Research
Group meeting
ACADEMIC TRAINING PATH
CCT
Medical School
Foundation
Programme
Academic
Foundation
Year
MB
Intercalated
BSc, MPH,
MRes
BSc
MB/PhD
ST1, ST2,
ST3
Specialist Training
Core
Medical
Training
Academic
Status
Clinical
Training
F1
Academic position
Academic Clinical
Fellowship
Academic Clinical
Lectureship
ACF
ACL
1
2
3
4
Senior
Lecturer
5
F2
Personal
Fellowship
Training
Fellowship
3 yrs
Further specialty /
sub-speciality
training
Clinician
Scientist
Fellowship or
Educational
Training up
to 4 yrs
Senior Clinical
Fellowship
Graduate
Entry
Training
The timings of personal fellowships are indicative – there should be flexibility according to individual career progression
Academic F2:
Academic F2 training posts are for 4 months.
This will be with two other rotations one of which will be a
General Medicine attachment.
ACF/ACL:
Trainees already appointed at ST3 or above are eligible to apply.
Trainees who have undertaken postgraduate research (PhD or
MD) should have already submitted their thesis, or be within
three months of submission.
August 2014