"Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology - School of Health Sciences - 104363 - Clinical"

Position Details

School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £38,619 to £65,955 (NHS salary match)

Clinical Post

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to 4 years or obtaining CCT, whichever is sooner.

Closing date: 29th August 2024

Role Summary

This position will be based within the School of Health Sciences to support the area of obstetrics and gynaecology health research and teaching portfolio, part of the Women’s health stream. The research area has a broad portfolio of clinically based and basic science research across the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Research activity will focus upon on one of all potential areas of obstetrics and gynaecology. The post provides the opportunity for higher and advanced sub-specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology alongside pursuing an academic research career and contribution to teaching in relevant specialist modules of established teaching programmes (MBChB, BMedSc, MRes). 

The clinical duties of the post will be based at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. During the 50% clinical training allocation of the post, the post holder will have responsibilities for the care of inpatients and outpatients with the full range of obstetrics and gynaecology and general medical problems.

The successful applicant will undertake postdoctoral research within the School of Health Sciences, University of Birmingham. The University of Birmingham has one of the nation’s leading track records of obtaining prestigious career development and career establishment fellowships by major funders, including clinician scientist and senior clinical research fellowships from MRC, Wellcome Trust and numerous charities. The University of Birmingham champions the academic clinical integrated training pathway and hosts trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology throughout their career development. The primary objective is to facilitate clinicians who will go on to become future academic leaders in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Particular areas of focus for this post will be ‘platform science and bioinformatics’. 

We offer a highly multi-disciplinary collaborative environment that combines leading excellence in obstetrics and gynaecology. Research within Women’s Health focusses on maternal and reproductive health (reproductive endocrinology, endocrine aspects of fertility and miscarriage; metabolic health in pregnancy), metabolism (major themes: diabetes, obesity and energy metabolism; cancer and immune-metabolism), and endocrinology (endocrine tumours; endocrine-related cancer; steroid endocrinology). In addition, there is ready access to collaboration with mathematical modellers and computer scientists through the research incubator sessions of the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB). The successful applicant will have access to all state-of-the-art technologies and expertise to facilitate the development of their research career.

Our science is translated into health via the Birmingham Health Partners (BHP). Maternal and Reproductive Research benefits from the National Tommy’s Centre for Miscarriage Care and Research. Research is also benefitted by the Centre of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM). In addition, the IMSR is a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health. Opportunities are available to work in following areas of research with senior clinical academics based across all Institutes in the areas of maternal and perinatal health (Prof Morris and Dr V Hodgetts Morton), reproductive health (Prof Coomarasamy), cancer research (Prof Sundar), benign gynaecology (Prof Clark), and global health (Prof Coomarasamy). The post holder will be encouraged to collaborate with multidisciplinary researchers working in the BRC Women’s Metabolic Health Theme, NIHR Patient Safety Research Centre Maternity theme, Tommy’s miscarriage centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for global women’s health, and Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit.

We are looking for a highly motivated early career clinician who has recently completed or is about to complete a higher degree and aims at an academic clinical career in an area that synergises with ongoing research within the Women’s Health theme. Teaching the nation’s next doctors is a key mission of our School and we expect clinical lecturers to engage with teaching activities but this will be a minor component to facilitate adequate postdoctoral research opportunities.

Main Duties

Clinical and Research activity balance

There will be a 50:50 split between clinical and academic sessions, with the allocation of research time flexibly adjusted to the requirements of the specific research project. Time in post is recognised 100% to contribute to CCT accreditation and clinical competencies will be assessed annually at the ARCP assessments in the usual way. The on-call obstetrics and gynaecology commitments will be in accordance with the Hospital Specialist Registrar rota. 

The post holder will normally remain in post until CCT is achieved. In line with NIHR, we also offer the opportunity for a 12-month extension beyond CCT, which can be applied for six months prior to the CCT date.

Description of research component of programme

There will be flexibility to allow the successful candidate to develop their research interest within any of the research areas (both clinical and basic science/laboratory based work) in collaboration with any of the principal investigators within the research section.

It is required that prospective candidates have undergone a period of research training and have completed or been awarded a postgraduate degree (MD or PhD), or on track to completion. The candidate must have a track record with peer reviewed publications and the lectureship will provide the opportunity to prepare for a postdoctoral career development fellowship (e.g. Wellcome/MRC/NIHR postdoctoral or clinician scientist fellowships). We offer individually tailored research supervision and mentoring as well as generic skills training and opportunities for leadership training. All our lecturers are encouraged to take up the offer by the Academy of Medical Sciences to provide them with an external mentor and they receive tailor-made support in preparing for the submission of an Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grant for Clinical Lecturers.

Description of clinical training component of programme

The Clinical training will be at the Birmingham Women’s Hospital. This has 8500 deliveries per year and has large programmes for benign and oncological gynaecology. It has the centre for minimal invasive surgery and has three subspecialty training programs for the RCOG focusing upon:

• Maternal and Fetal Medicine. Tertiary referrals of complex maternal and fetal medicine cases. Specialist services in preterm birth.
• Urogynaecology. Management of urogynaecological cases.
• Reproductive Medicine. Aspects of both assisted reproductive technologies, benign gynaecological surgery, genetics and endocrinology.
• Tommy’s miscarriage clinic.

The opportunity of exposure to a full range of obstetrics and gynaecology training opportunities will be offered. Successful candidates will be on an on-call ‘shift’ rota at intervals of 1 in 10 for both general obstetrics and gynaecology and where possible on-call duties will be arranged to fall outside academic time, with overall reduction of on calls to reflect the 50% rather than 100% clinical commitment of the training post. 

Status: For ‘on-call’ the clinical lecturer, as an SPR will be resident on-call.

Out of Hours commitment: The basic working week is 40 hours. In addition, the post holder will be expected to undertake out of hours on-call commitment that will vary depending on the duties of the post, but will not exceed the limits defined in the Terms and Conditions of Service paragraph 20.

Person Specification

Professional experience

Essential

• MRCOG (part 1)
• Experience at the level of ST3 or greater 
• Hold a NTN

Desirable

• MRCOG (Part ⅔)
• Higher degree (PhD or MD) or about to complete a higher degree in a subject area pertinent to obstetrics and gynaecology

Education

Essential

• Experience of teaching medical undergraduates

Desirable

• Experience in small group teaching
• Experience in the development of innovative teaching approaches

Training/Specialist skills

Essential

• Computer literate with Word, Excel, EndNote

Desirable

• Experienced in the use of Prism/GraphPad software

Research

Essential

• Have good quality publications

Desirable

• Demonstrate the ability to attain funding from peer review grant bodies (i.e. MRC, HTA, etc)

Special aptitudes/abilities 

Essential

• Ability to work in a team-orientated environment and to work without friction with colleagues

Desirable

• Ability to develop new techniques and assess their worth

Motivation and disposition

Essential

• Committed to a career in academic medicine
• Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team
• Bright committed and able to produce consistently high quality work within deadlines
• Excellent communication skills

Pre-employment OH&DBS

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health and DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Further particulars can be found here

Informal enquiries to Victoria Morton, email: v.a.h.morton@bham.ac.uk 

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