First research interns graduate
The first cohort of nurses and an allied health professional have graduated from an internship programme which offers them the opportunity to take the first step into clinical research.
The Nurse, Midwifery and Allied Health Professional (NMAHP) Research Internship Programme is a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Sheffield Clinical Academic Training Programme.
It offers professionals who may traditionally have had limited opportunities to be involved in research the chance to undertake a 12-month research project within their area of clinical practice, with clinical academic supervision and mentorship.
The first four interns to graduate from the scheme presented their projects and received their graduation certificates at an event at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN).
The graduates and their research projects were:
- Mark Cassell, Emerging Nurse Consultant in Infectious diseases, Infection and Immunity Services: Blood borne virus screening in community drug treatment services - access, engagement and linkage to care.
- Andrea Sorsby, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Lung, Specialised Cancer Services: Are certain ethnic groups less likely to be treated for lung cancer within our region?
- Rowan Waring, Community Nurse Team Leader, Community Nursing Services: Health coach training in community nursing – understanding the opportunities and barriers.
- Vicki Middleton, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Spinal Injuries Unit: Development of a holistic physical activity promotion and knowledge dissemination programme for spinal cord injury patients.
Ultimately it is intended that the research work can feed into clinical practice, and that the graduates will be prepared for the next stage of a clinical academic career and to provide peer support for future interns.
Professor Diana Greenfield, Co-chair of the NMAHP Research Internship Programme, said: “It was fantastic to see our first group of interns graduate and to learn about their research projects and findings.
“We aim to continue developing clinical academic opportunities for all healthcare professionals and establish a successful and sustainable infrastructure and network of experienced clinical academic NMAHP research mentors across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
“We also anticipate that the research activity and findings will feed into clinical practice and contribute to improvements in patient care and services.”
Pic l-r: Professor Diana Greenfield; Karen Jessop, Deputy Chief Nurse STH; research interns Rowan Waring, Andrea Sorsby, Mark Cassell, Vicki Middleton; Professor Laura Serrant, Regional Head of Nursing & Midwifery, Health Education England
Go back
