Lead Academic:        Dr Michael A Williams, 1st Floor, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK, BT12 6BJ. Tel.: 0044 2890632591 Research Profile Link 

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Ophthalmology Department at the earliest opportunity to discuss the forthcoming placement with Academic Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic experience.

Generic academic skills

Undertaking an academic F2 placement will offer you insights into clinical academic medicine. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

Academic component

On joining the Ophthalmology Department you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback during regular supervisory meetings from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved. This will be in the form of hour long weekly meetings with Dr Williams, face to face if COVID related restrictions allow..

Research skills

1. A research project will be undertaken in an area relevant to medical education or ophthalmology. If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national or international meeting.
2. Research training: With guidance it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate results and practise scientific writing; present data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation).
3. Mentorship: You will have access to a clinical academic staff member (Dr Williams) who is available to provide longer-term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine.

Teaching skills

You will be expected to spend a half to one day delivering teaching. This will provide excellent experience, opportunities for feedback and learning  - and is highly enjoyable!

1. In Ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

- You be encouraged to participate in teaching of QUB 3^rd year medical students as they rotate through ophthalmology, in providing a weekly 2-hour face to face tutorial using teaching material already available. Opportunities for direct supervision (‘peer review’) by academic supervisors will allow feedback to improve your teaching confidence and competence.

- During your clinical sessions, you will be expected to deliver clinical teaching.

1. In CSEC and InterSIm
2. Regular teaching sessions in clinical skills
3. Peer review of teaching
4. OSCE training and potential to examine in an OSCE
5. Certificate for the AFP2 portfolio 

Opportunities on offer during the academic year in CSEC and InterSim include:

Further information on this will be available on these opportunities at induction. 

Clinical and or Research Centre Seminars

There is a weekly two hour regional ophthalmology postgraduate class and monthly audit meeting, at which clinical cases and topics are discussed, and often guest speakers give talks. You will be expected to attend this when possible.

There are also weekly specialty specific teaching sessions, lasting half and hour, on Uveitis and on Glaucoma (as of 2022-23).

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of management of acute and chronic ophthalmic diseases in outpatient settings where you will see new and review patients. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBD formats. Tuition will also be provided on appropriate construction of dictated letters to fellow health professional and patients (an important generic skill). There may be opportunities to attend surgical sessions, and you will have responsibilities to cover ward work at times. It will also be expected that you will be preparing for Part 1 of a postgraduate exam diet, such as MRCP, MRCS or MRCOphth during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plans

Example Template

Clinical Skills Education Centre (CSEC) Queen’s University Belfast within the Centre for Medical Education (CME).

Lead Academic:                 Dr D Wilson (Research Profile Link) and Prof Gerry Gormley (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application you should contact the academic supervisor to discuss your forthcoming placement.  This will help with planning a suitable research / educational project and developing your academic experience.  

Overall goal of placement: The primary aim of this placement is to develop your understanding of the main principles of effective medical education. This will be provided by both theoretical instruction and practical experience of the medical degree programme at Queen’s University Belfast. There will be a particular focus on clinical skills and simulation. To date we have had a number of AFPs placements in medical education. Overwhelmingly this placement has been viewed as a positive experience by our previous AFPs. We have a track record of AFPs translating their work into scholarly outputs such as conference presentations and publications.

Key learning objectives of placement:

• Curriculum design and development: You have the opportunity to gain a greater insight to aspects of curricular design, review and development
• Teaching delivery: You will have many opportunities to teach medical students both within a small and large group setting. The main focus will be on teaching clinical skills to small groups in the Clinical Skills Education Centre. This can vary during the academic year but will equate to approx. 2-4 sessions per week. You will be given instruction in the qualities of delivering effective education and receive peer review.
• Assessment and student progress: You will gain an insight into the various assessment methods used in medical education. There will be opportunity to design an OSCE station and receive training to be an accredited OSCE examiner
• Student support: You will gain some exposure to why some students come in to difficulty during their studies. You will also gain an insight into how they are managed and supported through this time.
• Scholarly activity: You will have the opportunity to get involved in aspects of scholarly activity in medical education such as presenting at a journal club and involvement in faculty development activities and quality improvement processes.  There is also the possibly of gaining some exposure to medical education research with the potential of contributing to a research project. We would be keen that individuals in this post work towards having an abstract presented at a scientific meeting.
• Use of technology supporting medical education: You will have the opportunity to gain experience in using various technologies used in delivering medical education (e.g. eLearning, simulation based learning, video feedback analysis)

Clinical and or Research Centre Seminars

You will offered the opportunity to attend medical education research training sessions in the Centre for Medical Education (CME). There are also opportunities to attend medical education journal clubs throughout the academic year.

Experience in Clinical Skills Education Centre (CSEC)

You will have an opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience in CSEC. 

Opportunities on offer

• To date, many AFP2 (associated in research positions) have gained valuable teaching
• Regular teaching sessions in clinical skills – with formal induction and debrief
• Peer review of teaching
• OSCE training and potential to examine in an OSCE
• Certificate for the AFP2 portfolio
• experience in CSEC. 

Teaching sessions on offer 

• Teaching usually occurs on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon  - during the academic year
• There are also other teaching sessions on during the week

There are also many other opportunities in teaching in the Centre for Medical Education such as Case based faciltation roles  

Further information on these opportunities will be provided at induction by Dr Diane Wilson and Prof Gerry Gormley

Supervision process

On the first day of your placement you will have an induction and appraisal session with your academic supervisor(s). During this session you will be provided with the key outcomes of your placement and familiarized with your working environment and operational processes. Throughout your placement you will have regular meetings with your supervisor(s) to ensure your academic competencies are being achieved. You will meet with your academic supervisor on a fortnightly basis, and attend  regular informal meetings throughout your time in CSEC. You will also be provided with a series of key academic publications and reading material relating to medical education that you will be expected to read during your attachment.

Clinical component

There will be no clinical component in this 4 month attachment, although you may be included in an on-call rota. If desired ‘taster sessions’ in other specialities maybe arranged.

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to the major areas of medical education. The plan will vary from week-week. This is largely dependent on the medical curriculum being delivered during your time in the Centre for Medical Education and the Clinical Skills Education Centre.

Lead Academic:                Michael Trimble, Centre for Medical Education, Mulhouse Building, 2nd Floor, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BJ (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the team at Centre for Medical Education and Acute Medicine Unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast at the earliest opportunity to discuss the forthcoming placement with Academic and Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic experience.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisor and other University staff. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career

Academic component

On joining the team you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved. The school is currently developing and implementing a new curriculum for undergraduate medicine and you will have the opportunity to be involved in this process.

Research skills

A current major area of interest is development of teaching materials in clinical reasoning. The application of clinical reasoning theory to ethical decision-making is also an area of interest. There will be opportunity to pursue a qualitative research project in this area. Evaluation of new curriculum content and materials would be encouraged.

This attachment will also help you understand the governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation.

During your attachment, you will have access to an experienced clinical academic staff member (Michael Trimble) who is available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine

Teaching skills

The Acute Medicine Unit has both undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of Internal Medicine to 3rd year medical students (seminar and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisor with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.

You will be encouraged to participate in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and writing Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Instruction in assessment methodology will be provided.

Formal postgraduate education includes weekly case-based learning, research and clinical governance sessions held in the Acute Medicine Unit.

Clinical component

Clinical experience will be in the Acute Medicine Unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital. There will be ample opportunity to review the diagnostic process in action as there is a consultant present in the unit from 0800 to 1900 daily.

Provisional job plans

Lead Academic:        Professor Neil Kennedy (Research Profile Link) & Dr Thomas Bourke (t.bourke@qub.ac.uk) (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

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 an academic career in paediatric medicine, with an emphasis on clinical medical education. Those considering a career in paediatrics or medical education are encouraged to apply.

Generic academic skills

The trainee will gain skills in the following areas:

• Small and larger group teaching
• Peer review of teaching
• Written and clinical assessment of learning
• Use of high-fidelity simulation equipment
• Inter-professional education
• Presentation
• Academic writing, including submission of an article for peer-review

Academic component

The academic emphasis is on clinical education of undergraduate medical students in paediatrics and other aspects of medical education and assessment. This placement will provide the trainee with an opportunity to develop skills in a wide range of teaching, learning and assessment domains. The trainee will be encouraged to develop a scholarly approach to medical education scholarship.

Research skills

The trainee will be expected to prepare and submit an article for a peer-reviewed journal such as:

• Generate a ‘PICO’ question (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), answer it, and submit the results as an article in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal e.g. Archimedes section of ‘Archives in Disease in Childhood’ or
• Prepare a ‘Best Practice’ or ‘Epilogue’ article for submission to the Education and Practice section of Archives in Disease in Childhood
• The trainee will attend the paediatric education journal club, and present a critical appraisal of one article.

Teaching skills

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
• Participate in inter-professional education of 3^rd year nursing and 4^th year medical students in RBHSC
• Create a simulation scenario using ‘Sim-Baby’ high-fidelity equipment.
• Participate in 2 ‘peer-reviews’ of their teaching and perform peer review of others teaching
• Complete a structured reflective note about 2 teaching sessions to which they have contributed
• Attend multiple choice question writing workshop and generate questions for both summative (end-of-4^th year and finals) and formative (on-line, practice paper) examinations
• With their supervisor, develop a new paediatric OSCE station for use in 4^th year or final year examinations
• Undergo OSCE examiner training and help deliver year 3 & 4 OSCE
• Contribute to other aspects of undergraduate teaching such as Case-based learning as opportunities are available

Clinical component

The trainee can negotiate which paediatric clinical attachments complement their learning needs and clinical interests. For example an AF2 mightspend one 1/2day per week working in the Emergency Department at the RBHSC [with full clinical supervision], and one ½ day in the Rapid Response General Paediatric clinic. In addition they will attend 2 clinical meetings per week (RBHSC Tuesday Grand Round, RBHSC weekly handover meeting).

He / she will be expected to see new and review patients in emergency and outpatient settings. Clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment will be provided according to the Foundation Programme Curriculum.

Provisional job plans

Example Template

Lead Academic:          Prof Nigel Hart  (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you should contact the academic supervisor to discuss your forthcoming placement.  This will help with planning a suitable research / educational project and developing your academic experience.  You will be working within the Centre for Public Health (https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPublicHealth/About/) in the company of a large variety of nationally- and internationally-recognised clinical experts, epidemiologists, statisticians, biochemists, geneticists and more.

The overarching mission of the Centre for Public Health is to advance the health of the public at a regional, national and international level, by increasing knowledge and influencing clinical and public health practice and policy.

Generic academic skills

The primary aim of this placement is to develop your understanding and skill set for evidence development and implementation in the context of General Practice and Primary Care. This will be provided by the undertaking of a small project working together with a variety of colleagues in the Centre for Public Health. We will encourage you to have a project which, with some preplacement work, and with sufficient hard work, may scholarly outputs e.g. a conference poster and possibly a peer reviewed publication.  

Academic component

On joining the Centre for Public Health you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for our SFP F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisors throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to General Practice / Primary Care. These can include areas such as cardiovascular, renal and social epidemiology; health services research; cancer prevention; public health programme evaluation in areas such as screening, health improvement and health protection and communicable disease control. A particular focus will be on the application of implementation science for the translation of research into meaningful patient care outcomes in the context of Primary Care. If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting
2. Research training: With guidance, it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate and analyse survey data; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we will have you join in with the General Practice Academic Research Training (GPARTs) research training.
3. Mentorship: You will have access to an experienced member of clinical academic staff (Prof Nigel Hart) and the support of other General Practice / Primary Care Academic and key members of the wider CPH Team.

Teaching skills

General Practice / Primary Care has active undergraduate educational contributions in our sister centre of the Centre for Medical Education to which you be welcome to contribute.

Clinical component

While there will be no formal clinical component in this 4 month attachment, you may be afforded ‘taster sessions’ in General Practice with Prof Nigel Hart who works clinically in a GP Practice in close proximity to the Centre for Public Health. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. You will also be given tuition on the fundamentals of good scientific writing. 

Provisional job plans

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to the major areas of Primary Care.  There will be a dedicated desk and personal computer for use in the unit.  Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the familiarization and training you will receive on a variety of regional surveys and databases.

Lead Academic:          Dr Jayne Woodside (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following a successful application, you should contact the academic supervisor to discuss your forthcoming placement.  This will help with planning a suitable research project and developing your academic experience.  An interest in diet and health research and awareness of potential for nutritional intake to be associated with health outcomes.

Generic academic skills

Nutrition research methods; literature searching; scientific writing; statistical analysis.

Supervision process

Your supervisor will provide you with a strong level of support and will provide you with every opportunity to gain the very best experience from this placement.  You should arrange regular meetings with your supervisor and complete a meeting feedback form, including key action points, after each meeting. 

Academic component

This rotation will be based around analysis of previously conducted data collection surrounding iodine and health outcomes, iodine status, and the determinants of iodine status within surveys already conducted by previous clinical research fellows during pregnancy, in schoolgirls, and using routinely collected clinical data.   The applicant will work with Dr Karen Mullan, Consultant Endocrinologist and Professor Jayne Woodside, Professor of Human Nutrition, who have worked together on iodine research over the last ten years (see recent review link below).  Development of the research question according to the specific interests of the applicant will be possible.

Woodside JV, Mullan KR. Iodine status in UK-An accidental public health triumph gone sour. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2021 Apr;94(4):692-699.

Research skills

Nutrition and epidemiological research methods; statistical analysis; literature searching; scientific writing; critical analysis.

Clinical and or Research Centre Seminars

CPH has regular seminars which those on placement will be encouraged to attend.  The nutrition group within CPH also have monthly meetings throughout the academic year, while the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes also hold regular research and clinical update meetings.

Teaching Skills with Centre for Medical Education

To date, many trainees have gained valuable teaching experience in CSEC.    

Opportunities on offer

• Regular teaching sessions in clinical skills – with formal induction and debrief
• Peer review of teaching
• OSCE training and potential to examine in an OSCE
• Certificate for the AFP2 portfolio 

 Teaching sessions on offer

• Teaching usually occurs on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon  - during the academic year
• There are also other teaching sessions on during the week
• There are also many other opportunities in teaching in the Centre for Medical Education 
• To ensure a rich experience we would recommend at least 1 session per week were possible

Further information on this will be available on these opportunities at induction. 

Clinical component

The project has close links with the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes.

Provisional job plans

Example Template (1-2 clinical sessions per week likely within Endocrinology and Diabetes)

Lead Academics:   Professor F Kee (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Centre for Public Health to discuss the forthcoming placement with Academic Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into academic public health through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic public health and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

On joining the Centre for Public Health, you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to public health. These include areas such as cardiovascular, renal and social epidemiology; health services research; cancer prevention; public health programme evaluation in areas such as screening, health improvement and health protection and communicable disease control. If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting
2. Research training: With guidance, it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate and analyse survey data; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to visit the various divisions of the Public Health Agency and a variety of statutory and non statutory bodies with which it works.
3. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced clinical academic staff (Professor Kee) and the support of key trainers and their staff in the Public Health Agency, who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic public health.

Teaching skills

Public Health has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of epidemiology and public health to 2nd year medical students (seminar and class-based teaching). This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisors with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly case-based learning, research seminars and journal clubs held in the Centre for Public Health as well as governance and audit sessions in the Public Health Agency.

Clinical Component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of a variety of disciplines that work in partnership in public health (including epidemiology, statistics, health economics, social sciences) and a population approach to disease control and health improvement in communities. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. You will also be given tuition on the fundamentals of good scientific writing. It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the Part 1 MRCP exam or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to the major areas of public health practice.  There will be a dedicated desk and personal computer for use in the unit.  Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the familiarization and training you will receive on a variety of regional surveys and databases.

Lead Academic:          Professor Augusto Azuara-Blanco (a.azuara-blanco@qub.ac.uk) (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Ophthalmology Department and Centre for Public Health (CPH) to discuss the forthcoming placement with Academic Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

On joining CPH you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to Ophthalmology in which the Centre for Public Health including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein obstruction, glaucoma, cornea, inherited retinal diseases, and low vision.  There is academic expertise in the following areas:

Experimental models

Epidemiology

Genetics

Evidence synthesis

Diagnostic technologies

Global Eye Health

Medical education

Clinical trials

If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting or a publication.

Research training: With guidance it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate biochemical and/or genetic results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to visit the associated laboratories and research areas with links to Ophthalmology.  If interested there is also the possibility of undertaking research in medical education. 

Mentorship:  Professor Azuara-Blanco will be the first contact during the F2.  You will have access to experienced clinical academic staff (Prof Tunde Peto, Professor Augusto-Azuara Blanco, Professor Noemi Lois, Prof. Nathan Congdon, Professor Gianni Virgili, Dr Michael Williams, Dr. Ruth Hogg), and clinicians with active research portfolios, Miss Giuliana Silvestri and Professor Jonathan Jackson..  Senior scientific staff (Prof A Stitt, Prof Heping Xu, Dr David Simpson, Dr Tim Curtis, and Dr Denise McDonald) are also available to provide advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine.

Teaching skills

Ophthalmology has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of Ophthalmology to 3rd year medical students both in the core curriculum and SSC programme – depending on the time of year (seminar and outpatient clinical teaching). This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisors with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.

Formal postgraduate education includes weekly postgraduate class which includes case based learning and guest speaker (on Fridays p.m.) and weekly Journal clubs (on Tuesdays). 

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of management of diseases in an outpatient setting, eye casualty, inpatient management and observation in theatre. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. Tuition will also be provided on appropriate construction of dictated letters to fellow health professional and patients (an important generic skill).

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic Ophthalmology, but could be adapted to the interest of the candidate.  The clinical components of the attachment will be tailored to reflect the needs of the project which you choose to undertake. There will be a communal computer for use in the unit’s resident’s room. Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to ophthalmology practice.

Lead Academic:        Dr F A O’Neill (Research Profile Link) 

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited Dept. of Psychiatry/ Centre for Public Health to discuss clinical and research opportunities. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

On joining the Dept. of Psychiatry you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to Psychiatry/Mental Health.
2. These include areas such as epidemiology of schizophrenia and substance misuse, molecular genetics of schizophrenia.
3. If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting
4. Research training: With guidance it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate biochemical and/or genetic results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation).
5. To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to visit the associated laboratories and research areas with links (specifically molecular genetics, and epidemiology). There would also be the opportunity to work with psychology and sociology within Queens depending on research project.
6.  There will also be the option for you to collaborate with some of our partners nationally and internationally, such as Virginia Commonwealth University and the Institute of Psychiatry in London.
7. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced clinical academic staff (Dr O’Neill, Dr Mulholland) who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine
8. We would also expect you to engage with the wider psychiatric community within Northern Ireland.

Teaching skills

Psychiatry has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of fourth year medical students (seminar and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisors with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly case-based learning, research and clinical governance sessions held in the Belfast Trust Academic Meeting.

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of management of chronic diseases in an outpatient setting with attendance at a weekly teaching clinic where you will be expected to see new patients and some review patients.

This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. Tuition will also be provided on appropriate construction of dictated letters to fellow health professional and patients (an important generic skill). You will be invited to enrol in the Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health at QUB. 

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic psychiatry.

There will be a dedicated desk and personal computer for use in the unit and appropriate secretarial support. There will be opportunities for remote working.

Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to psychiatry practice.

Lead Academics:   Professor AP Passmore  (Research Profile Link) / Professor Bernadette McGuinness   (Research Profile Link) / Dr Emma Cunningham  (Research Profile Link) / Dr Joseph Kane (Research Profile Link) 

  Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Ageing Group, which is comprised of Clinical Academics specialising in Geriatric Medicine and Psychiatry of Old Age and discuss your interests and aims for your placement. This will help with planning a suitable research project, clinical role, and academic exposure. You will agree on a set of academic objectives for your placement.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

Academic component

On joining the Group you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved. You are encouraged to enrol for the Certificate/Diploma in Academic Medicine although this is not compulsory.

Research skills

A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to ageing. These include areas such as cognitive assessment in mild cognitive impairment and dementia, the role of risk factors in dementia and the prevention of dementia. If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting.

Research training: With guidance it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance and ethical issues relevant to clinical academic research; learn about ICH/GCP; learning about capacity and consent in people with cognitive disorders; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate biochemical and/or genetic results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to get involved with current research projects e.g. cognitive testing in NICOLA, role of inflammation in mild cognitive impairment and dementia, use of EEG as a biomarker of dementia, role of delirium in predicting subsequent dementia. There will also be the opportunity to avail of training in the use of clinical research assessment tools. This could take place in the setting of a research project and will include training in the use of  a range of clinical research scales eg cognition, depression, neuropsychiatric symptoms, activities of daily living and disease staging scales.

Mentorship: Professor Passmore, Professor McGuinness, Dr Cunningham and Dr Kane will be available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine.

Teaching skills

Geriatric medicine and Psychiatry of Old Age has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme in year 4 and year 5 (seminar and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisors with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. You will have opportunities to participate in the teaching of Student Selected Component (SSC), such as “Movies, Myths and Mental Illness”.
3. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly case-based learning, research and clinical governance sessions held in the University Department and Elderly Care Unit.

You will be encouraged to participate in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and writing Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). Instruction in assessment methodology will be provided.

Clinical component

A clinical component may be included as part of the learning about the use of assessment tools in clinical practice. There will be F2-level feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk).  It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the Part 1 MRCP exam, MRCPsych Paper A, or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Clinical and/or Research Centre Seminars - There are monthly research seminars held by the Ageing Research Group within CPH, monthly NICOLA research dissemination meetings, regional neuroimaging meetings, and monthly QUB Neuroscience meetings that you will be welcome to attend.

Provisional job plans

There is flexibility within the schedule below to accommodate your interests and learning objectives. The schedule could also be modified to accommodate Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training and trainees that wish to work remotely. There will be a dedicated desk and personal computer for use in the unit. Training in library and journal access will be provided. 

Lead Academic:     Prof C O’Kane (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Regional Respiratory Centre to discuss the placement with Academic Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

On joining the Centre for Experimental Medicine you will have an appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to respiratory medicine. These include tuberculosis, atypical infection (including non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection), bronchiectasis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cystic fibrosis, asthma, chronic cough and COPD.  The project will be supervised by an experienced clinical academic.  Ideally, the research project will form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting.
2. Research training: It is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate laboratory results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to spend some time in the respiratory research group laboratories in the Centre for Experimental Medicine. Trainees may also assist in current clinical trials and receive training in the basics of trial methodology, ethics and governance.
3. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced clinical academic staff (Professor Heaney, Professor McAuley, Prof McGarvey, Prof O’Kane, Dr Downey) who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine

Teaching skills

Respiratory medicine has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of 1^st and 2^nd year medical students (seminar and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching may be directly observed by your academic supervisors or other staff from the Centre for Medical Education with opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly research group meetings, research and clinical governance sessions held in the within the CEM or within the wider team’s clinical trial groups.

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of management of chronic diseases in an outpatient setting with attendance at a weekly teaching clinic where you will be expected to see new patients and some review patients. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. Tuition will also be provided on appropriate construction of dictated letters to fellow health professional and patients (an important generic skill). It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the Part 1 MRCP exam or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic respiratory medicine. Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to respiratory practice.

Lead Academic:        Professor DF McAuley (Research Profile Link)

Clinical Supervisor: Dr J McNamee

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to contact your Academic and Clinical Supervisors to discuss the placement. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

The placement will commence with an appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved. You are encouraged to enrol for the Certificate/Diploma in Academic Medicine although this is not compulsory.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to intensive care medicine. These include the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), delirium, sepsis and nosocomial infection. The project will be supervised by an experienced clinical academic. The research project will form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting and if possible a publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
2. Research training: It is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate laboratory results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this we have planned for academic F2 doctors to visit the Centre for Experimental Medicine (CEM) research laboratories. Trainees will assist in current clinical trials and will receive training in the basics of trial methodology, ethics and governance.
3. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced academic and clinical staff (Prof McAuley, Dr O’Kane, Dr J McNamee, Dr M Shyamsundar, Dr Jon Silversides and Dr R McMullan) who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine

Teaching skills

Intensive Care medicine has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will participate in the undergraduate teaching of medical students (seminars, clinical skills and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching will be directly observed with opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly journal clubs and seminars, as well as research and clinical governance sessions held in the Regional Intensive Care Unit and in CEM.

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of intensive care medicine through participating in ICU consultant ward rounds. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBL formats. It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the MRCP exam or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plan

This indicative job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic intensive care medicine. There will be a dedicated desk for your use in CEM.  Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to intensive care medicine practice.

Lead Academic:        Dr Damian Downey, Respiratory, Research Department, Ground Floor Tower Block, BCH (Research Profile Link)

Prior to starting the placement

Following your successful application you are advised to visit the Northern Ireland Regional Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre in the Belfast City Hospital. You will be able to discuss your forthcoming placement with the Clinical and Clinical Academic Supervisors. This is to ensure a suitable research project is chosen and that the academic F2 requirements will be met.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Clinical Academic Supervisor, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

Academic component

On joining the Regional Adult CF Centre you will have an initial appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will then meet face to face with Dr Downey on a weekly basis. These regular assessments will ensure academic competencies are met and that your agreed project is on target for completion during your 4-month attachment.

Research skills

1. Project. A research project can be chosen in a number of areas in CF and bronchiectasis. There are multiple active areas of research. These include microbiology database analysis, clinical trial experience, bench microbiology and inflammatory marker work. It would be expected that the work generated would form the basis of an abstract to an international meeting and/or a short report to a journal.
2. Research Training. With guidance it is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks, learn about the clinical research governance issues, undertake a literature review, interrogate a database, collate clinical and microbiological data, practise scientific writing, present data in an abstract and a poster/oral presentation.
3. Mentorship. You will have access to a clinical academic staff member (Dr D Downey) who is available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine.

Teaching skills

Cystic Fibrosis and bronchiectasis has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities. There are multiple medical students attached to the respiratory ward at any one time and educational opportunities will involve tutorial and bed-side teaching. The CF team includes a wide range of multidisciplinary members and there will be an opportunity to teach and discuss research projects and/or findings following the MDT meetings on Mondays.

There are also available slots for paper presentations and project discussion at our lab meetings on Wednesday mornings.

Feedback will be provided throughout.

Clinical component

The CF Centre in the Belfast City Hospital provides care for all adult patients with CF in NI. Dr Downey also leads a large bronchiectasis service that also includes a Lung Defence Clinic. This clinic provides specialist care for patients with immunodeficiencies and structural lung disease and is run in conjunction with clinical immunologists. The inpatient and outpatient work will provide a unique opportunity to be involved in the care of patients with complex respiratory needs and will provide training in treating challenging infections.

There will be amble opportunities for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBD formats.

Provisional job plans

Example Template

Lead    Academic:      Prof Denise Fitzgerald  Research Profile Link

Co-Supervisors:        Dr Gavin McDonnell, Dr Stella Hughes

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine to discuss the placement with Academic and Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure. For this post, Clinical Neurologists Dr Gavin McDonnell and/or Dr Stella Hughes will serve as co-supervisors

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic and Clinical Supervisors, Clinical Academics in training, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

Academic component

On joining the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine you will have an appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisors throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of topics relevant to neurology with an emphasis on inflammatory and demyelinating diseases. These include immunology, stem cell biology, neuroscience, regenerative biology, neuropathology, therapeutic intervention and clinical trialling. The project will be supervised by a team of supervisors to include at least one academic and one clinician. A clinical doctoral fellow may also contribute to the supervision. Ideally, the research project will form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting.

2. Research training: It is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (e.g. learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; collate laboratory results; undertake scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation). To assist in this you will spend some time in the Multiple Sclerosis research cluster laboratories in the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine (WWIEM). Trainees may also have an opportunity assist in current clinical trials and receive training in the basics of trial methodology, ethics and governance.

3. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced clinical and academic staff who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine as well as clinical academics that collaborate with the QUB MS Research cluster.

Teaching skills

Neurology has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of medical students (SSC, seminar and ward-based clinical teaching). This teaching may be directly observed by your academic supervisors or other staff from the Centre for Medical Education with opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.  In particular, there will be opportunity for involvement in year 3 neurology teaching – in conjunction with Drs. Stella Hughes and Karen Doherty.

2. Formal postgraduate education includes weekly research group meetings, research and clinical governance sessions held in the within the WWIEM and within the wider clinical neurology and clinical trial groups.

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of management of neurological diseases in an outpatient setting with attendance at a weekly outpatient clinic where you will be expected to see new patients and some review patients. This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies in mini-CEX and CBD formats. You will also gain experience of dictating letters to fellow health professional and patients (an important generic skill). It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the Part 1 MRCP exam or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plans

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic neurology and neuroimmunology. Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to neurology practice.

Example Template

Lead Academic:          Professor Ultan Powe  Research Profile Link

Clinical Supervisor:    Dr Kathy Li

Outline of the post

Prior to starting the placement

Following successful application, you are invited to visit the Regional Virology Laboratory Kelvin, RVH, to discuss the placement with Academic Clinical Supervisors. This will help with planning a suitable research project and academic exposure.

Generic academic skills

By undertaking an academic F2 placement you will gain insights into clinical academic medicine through regular interactions with the Academic Clinical Supervisors, University scientific staff and postgraduate research students. This placement is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and aptitudes for academic medicine and to foster interest in a long-term clinical academic career.

During the 4 month placement

Academic component

The placement will compare with an appraisal meeting to review your learning portfolio and agree the educational objectives for this F2 placement. You will receive feedback from your supervisor throughout the 4-month attachment with regular assessment to ensure academic competencies are achieved.

Research skills

1. A research project can be chosen in one of a number of areas in virus associated infections.  These include respiratory infections, infections in pregnancy and infections in the post-transplant setting.  The project will be supervised by an experienced clinical academic, or Prof. Power, depending on whether a more laboratory-based project is preferred.  If possible, the research project could form the basis of an abstract to be submitted to a national meeting
2. Research training: It is envisaged you will be able to complete a number of research project tasks (learn about the research governance issues relevant to clinical academic research; undertake a literature review; interrogate a database; introduction to bioinformatics; collate laboratory results; practise scientific writing; presentation of data in an abstract, as a poster and/or oral presentation).   Trainees will assist in current on-going studies and will receive training in the basics of trial methodology, ethics and governance.
3. Mentorship: You will have access to experienced clinical and scientific academic staff (Professor McGarvey, Professor McAuley, Professor U Power) who are available to provide longer term advice and encouragement to help you pursue a career in academic medicine and science.

Teaching skills

Microbiology has active undergraduate and postgraduate educational opportunities.

1. You will be encouraged to participate in the undergraduate teaching of medical students as appropriate through seminars and lectures. This teaching will be directly observed by your academic supervisors with multiple opportunities for feedback to improve your confidence and competence.
2. Formal postgraduate education includes a weekly journal club, research discussions, case-based learning, clinical governance and audit sessions held in the Regional Virus Laboratory.

Clinical component

There will be F2-level clinical feedback, appraisal and assessment as documented in the Foundation Programme Curriculum (www.mmc.nhs.uk). You will have particular opportunities to expand your knowledge of molecular investigations of infectious diseases with attendance at   teaching clinics / rounds where you will be expected to collate laboratory findings in relation to clinical presentation.  This will provide numerous encounters suitable for recording F2 competencies. Case reporting under the supervision of the consultant virology staff will be an integral component of the attachment.  It will also be expected that you will be preparing for and sitting the Part 1 MRCP exam or equivalent during the Academic F2 year.

Provisional job plan

This job plan has been designed to introduce the successful candidate to major areas of clinical and academic virology / molecular infectious diseases. There will be a dedicated desk and personal computer for use in the unit. Training in library and journal access will be provided in addition to the clinical training on the relevant hospital IT systems pertinent to virology practice.

To date, many trainees have gained valuable teaching experience in CSEC.    

Opportunities on offer

• Regular teaching sessions in clinical skills – with formal induction and debrief
• Peer review of teaching
• OSCE training and potential to examine in an OSCE
• Certificate for the AFP2 portfolio 

Teaching sessions on offer

• Teaching usually occurs on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon  - during the academic year
• There are also other teaching sessions on during the week
• There are also many other opportunities in teaching in the Centre for Medical Education 
• To ensure a rich experience we would recommend at least 1 session per week were possible

Further information on this will be available on these opportunities at induction.