I’ve just wrapped up hosting Manchester Catalys’s new podcast series “Humans of Clinical Academia”. The premise was straightforward: we wanted to move beyond standard academic interviews to explore what actually shapes successful clinical academic careers.
The Approach
Rather than the usual “tell me about your latest research,” I asked each guest to share five meaningful images from their personal and professional journey. This simple change opened up conversations that were far more honest and revealing than typical academic discussions.
Our Guests
The series featured eight distinguished clinical academics from nursing, psychology, podiatric, pharmacy and medical backgrounds:
- Prof Dawn Dowding – Digital health researcher and nursing informatics expert
- Prof Frank Lee Bowling, MBE – Researcher in translational medicine and podiatric surgeon
- Prof John Baker – Mental health nursing and patient safety researcher
- Prof Katherine Berry – Clinical psychologist researching attachment and psychosis
- Prof Rachel Elliott – Pharmacist-economist studying medication adherence and healthcare spending
- Prof Tony Redmond, OBE – Emergency medicine doctor, humanitarian responder to global disasters and conflict zones
- Prof Karina Lovell – Mental health nursing researcher specializing in psychological therapy and culturally sensitive interventions
- Prof Dame Nicky Cullum – Nursing researcher specialising in wound care
Plus a special final episode: “7 Secrets of Successful Clinical Academic Careers” – distilling wisdom from all conversations into key insights for aspiring clinical academics.
Honest Conversations
What made these interviews valuable was the willingness of our guests to discuss challenges that many clinical academics face but rarely talk about openly. Imposter syndrome featured in some conversations, as did the ongoing tension between clinical work and research commitments. These discussions provided practical insights for anyone navigating this career path.
Having researched healthcare workforce wellbeing and psychological resilience throughout my career, I was particularly interested in how each guest had developed their own strategies for managing the unique pressures of clinical academia. These conversations reinforced findings from my own research about what helps healthcare professionals thrive.
As Director of Manchester Catalys and someone who is passionate about helping clinicians get into research, I found these conversations affirmed much of what I’ve observed about successful clinical academic careers. The human stories behind the research reminded me why supporting the next generation of clinical academics matters.
Where to Listen
The series is available on:
Whether you’re considering a research career, currently balancing clinical work with academic development, or simply interested in the people behind leading clinical academic careers, these conversations offer genuine insights into what it takes to succeed.
Please check out our episodes, like and subscribe. We’re so grateful for your support!
