University of Southampton / University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine
Job Description
Department: Medicine (Respiratory)
Post: Clinical Lecturer in Respiratory Medicine
Grade: Academic Clinical Lecturer, Honorary Specialist Registrar
Responsible to: Dr Tom Wilkinson Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
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Introduction
The University of Southampton, together with the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, wishes to appoint an Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) in Respiratory Medicine. The post-holder will be pursuing his/her development of research and teaching within the Respiratory Research Group of the Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Sciences of the University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine and the Southampton NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit (BRU). The ACL will also have clinical commitments at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust with training in clinical skills required for specialist accreditation in Respiratory and General Medicine.
The post is subject to terms and conditions of service determined by the University of Southampton and in its honorary clinical capacity by the UHS NHS FT board.
Details of the Post
Academic training and development of the ACL
This is an academic post sponsored by the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. It provides a career pathway for able and ambitious trainees in Respiratory Medicine who have already shown excellence in Respiratory research by successfully completing a PhD. The post supports national efforts to strengthen Respiratory academia. The development and strengthening of the successful candidate’s Respiratory research will take place in the Respiratory academic group within the CES Unit, a multi-disciplinary division consisting of clinical and basic scientists focusing on mechanisms of inflammation and tissue repair in the context of a range of diseases caused by environmental agents, including allergens and microbes. The Division aims to develop improved methods of diagnosis and interventions which will prevent, ameliorate and/or cure infections and chronic inflammatory and fibrosing disorders. The strengths of this Unit result from the combination of an excellent scientific community focused on elucidation of fundamental mechanisms underlying human diseases.
The University of Southampton (http://www.southampton.ac.uk), member of the Russell Group of highly research active universities, and UHS NHS FT have developed a combined research strategy since 1992.
The ACL will join the Respiratory Research Group, which is directed by Professor Rob Read, Head of the Clinical and Experimental Academic Unit, and the NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit. The Group has within its ranks eminent and internationally recognised experts in both adult and paediatric lung diseases and allergy:
Professor Hasan Arshad, Professor in Allergy
Professor Howard Clark, Professor of Child Health
Professor Donna Davies, Professor of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
Professor Ratko Djukanovic, Professor of Medicine
Professor John Holloway, Professor in Allergy and Respiratory Genetics
Professor Peter Howarth, Professor of Respiratory Medicine
Professor Jane Lucas, Professor in PCD Research
Professor Anthony Postle, Professor in Developmental Biochemistry
Professor Graham Roberts, Professor in Paediatric Allergy and Respiratory Medicine
Dr Paul Elkington, Associate Professor in TB Research
Dr Anthony Sampson, Reader in Allergy & Inflammation Research
Dr Andrew Walls, Reader in Immunopharmacology
Dr Tom Wilkinson, Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine
The Group is recognised for its excellence and breadth of expertise, ranging from epidemiology of Respiratory and allergic disorders, genetics, and basic cellular and molecular mechanisms to clinical research, including clinical trials with novel drugs such as anti-IgE, anti-TNFα and interferon ß. The Respiratory research programme is translational and has the following broad objectives: (1) identification of key genetic and epigenetic mechanisms predisposing to the development of lung and allergic diseases, (2) elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms which drive the process of airways (upper and lower) inflammation, tissue injury and repair and the interaction of these with such environmental factors as allergens, viruses, pollutants and cigarette smoke, (3) identification of targets for novel therapies of allergic and Respiratory diseases, and (4) improved understanding of the mechanisms which underlie the clinical effectiveness of recently developed as well as established drugs.
The research of the Group is embedded into the excellent infra-structure of the CES Unit, refurbished through a joint Wellcome Trust SRIF (Science Research Investment Fund) and UoS grant, totalling £10.1M, and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility. In July 2008, the group was awarded an NIHR Respiratory BRU with funding (total £6.25M) to conduct a series of translational research projects and establish an excellent infra-structure in staff (research fellows, nurses, statistician, data management, technical and administrative support). Completion of the new BRU building in November 2010 and further funding success in 2012 for 5 years continued BRU support provides an unrivalled platform for the ACL position to succeed.
The Respiratory Research Group has extensive national and international collaborations including the UBIOPRED consortium programme in which Southampton is leading the “omics” platform and the application of ex vivo human models of asthma. Vaccine development with GSK and other industrial collaborators.
The Respiratory group is funded by grants from the NIHR, Medical Research Council, the (US) National Institutes of Health, EU Framework Programme 5 (including a Marie Curie Host Fellowships for Early Stage Researchers), the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), Wellcome Trust, Asthma UK, British Lung Foundation, Action Research, The Rayne Foundation, Sir Jules Thorn Trust and collaborative grants from the pharmaceutical industry.
Research Duties of the ACL
The ACL will have 50% of their post protected for further research, benefiting from all the facilities of the Respiratory Group and CES, as well as any other facilities from within the Faculty of Medicine, as appropriate. If required, additional arrangements can be made with other faculties of the University of Southampton.
The ACL is expected to continue in research in Respiratory Medicine either developing the work he/she started during his/her PhD studies, or in a new field within the speciality, moving from a position of an accomplished student towards that of an independent researcher who would be competitive for a Senior Lecturer position.
It is expected that the research will be supported by a Clinician Scientist Award for which the lecturer will be expected to apply.
The ACL will be responsible to a chosen supervisor/mentor (from the Unit) based on a common research interest and to Dr Tom Wilkinson, Director of Academic Respiratory Training for the Wessex Deanery. In respect of personal and administrative matters- jurisdiction of CES.
Clinical training of the ACL
The clinical training of the ACL will be provided and supervised by the Specialist Training Committee (STC), allocating 50% of the ACL’s training time to clinical work that would lead to completion of specialist training. This would take place within the Wessex Deanery’s region, with the Deanery being in Otterbourne and the programme covering an area from Portsmouth in the east, Basingstoke in the north, Dorchester to the west and Southampton in the south. The ACL will be placed in one of the accredited NHS Trusts in agreement between the ACL, the STC Chair/Programme Director, Dr Kevin McKinlay, and the Academic Programme lead, Dr Tom Wilkinson. Every attempt will be made to place the ACL in Southampton or in a nearby Trust to facilitate continuing contact between the ACL and his academic mentors.
Full details of the Southampton University Hospitals Trust are provided below, while details of the whole programme in the region can be obtained on request.
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
UHS) is the 8th largest in the country and is recognised as a centre of clinical, education and research excellence. It provides a service for acute medicine and all aspects of secondary care for the Southampton population and serves as a tertiary referral centre for a wide region in south England and, for many specialties, beyond the region.
Respiratory Service, Southampton General Hospital
New out-patient attendances approx. 2500/year
Follow-up out-patients attendances approx. 5000/year
Admissions: Day cases (in the Respiratory centre)approx. 6000/year
Emergency approx. 1500/year
Staffing of the Department
20 Consultants (14 NHS, 6 University)
6 Specialist Registrars,
5 Foundation year 2 Doctors
5 Foundation year 1 Doctors
Respiratory Consultants and their Lead duties
Academic Medicine
Professor Ratko Djukanovic, Director BRU and SCBR
Professor Peter Howarth, Professor in Respiratory Medicine, Head of Clinical Trials Unit
Professor Hasan Arshad, Professor in Allergy
Dr Tom Wilkinson, Associate Professor in Respiratory Medicine
Dr Paul Elkington, Associate Professor Tuberculosis Research
Dr Hans Michael Haitchi Asthma
UHS Hospital Trust Consultants
Dr Anindo Banerjee, Clinical Lead for Respiratory Medicine and Lead for Lung cancer, bronchoscopy and Pulmonary function
Dr Ben Marshall, Lead for Tuberculosis and the Immunocompromised Host
Dr Jane Wilkinson, Lead for Sleep medicine, Domiciliary NIV
Dr Mary Carroll, Director of Cystic Fibrosis Centre
Dr Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy, Lead for Asthma, Allergy and the Respiratory Centre
Dr Julia Nightingale, Cystic Fibrosis
Dr Anastasios Lekkas, Interests Lung cancer, HDU and Domicillary NIV
Dr Rachel Limbrey, Lead for Pulmonary vascular disease & Respiratory Ward Administrator
Dr Thomas Daniels, Cystic Fibrosis Lead
Dr Zoe Pond, COPD Integrated Care
Dr David Land HDU Lead
Dr Sophie Fletcher Lead for the Interstitial Lung Disease Service & HDU
Dr Tom Havelock COPD
Dr Paddy Dennison Asthma
Respiratory Clinical Service
The Respiratory clinical service in UHS covers all aspects of Respiratory and allergic diseases. Specialist clinics are held for Respiratory and other allergic diseases, difficult airways diseases (asthma, COPD, chronic cough), lung cancer, interstitial lung diseases, sleep-related breathing disorders and chronic non-invasive ventilation, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis. The service also has a specialised Respiratory Assessment Centre established to provide quick access to COPD patients during exacerbations and now providing additional diagnostic and therapeutic services for Respiratory diseases. Many of the services provided by these specialist clinics is supported by multi-disciplinary teams. Furthermore, there is a specialist asthma service which also provides anti-IgE monoclonal antibody treatment for selected patients with severe asthma.
Clinical training of specialist registrars in Respiratory Medicine
It is anticipated that the post will comprise 6 months of academic work and 6 months of clinical work per year. Clinical training will be the equivalent of usual clinical training to CCT standard in Respiratory Medicine During the clinical slot (50% of the post), the ACL will perform a weekly Respiratory outpatient session at Southampton General Hospital, and will perform all other duties expected of a clinical trainee at this stage of training, as determined by their training needs assessed at Annual Review of Progress. At Southampton General Hospital there is specific experience in Respiratory HDU, Cystic Fibrosis, Complex Airways Disease, Complex Tuberculosis, Domiciliary Ventilation, Sleep, Allergy and Endobronchial Ultrasound. There is the opportunity for ICU experience. Respiratory
Clinical Timetable
The weekly clinical timetable will vary according to the needs of the clinical service and the seniority and training requirements of the appointed lecturer. Clinical exposure to inpatient services and general and specialist outpatient’s clinics will be rostered with the NHS specialist trainees. Contribution to the general medical on call rota will be an essential part of the post during the clinical phase of the lectureship and may be required during the research phase.
Specialty registrar education
The StR will take part in the Wessex StR training programme in both Respiratory Medicine and general internal medicine. This is an active programme, which has been well received and currently consists of ten full day sessions run at within the region, under the supervision of the Respiratory Training Committee in Wessex. There is an active clinical audit and clinical governance committee at Southampton and the StR will be expected to undertake at least one audit during his/her time at Southampton.
A weekly in house educational meeting is held for Junior Doctors specifically on a Monday lunch time and for all Respiratory staff of a Thursday morning. There is a Journal Club on Friday mornings for StRs.
Training and educational duties of the StR
The ACL will join the staff of the Respiratory Service in the provision of undergraduate and postgraduate education in the specialty. He/she will be expected to take an active part in teaching junior doctors, medical students and allied health professionals at Southampton in both general and Respiratory Medicine.
Southampton is home to a large medical school with an annual intake of over 250 medical students. Undergraduate education in Respiratory Medicine is provided through a modular course (Cardio-pulmonary course) at the University of Southampton Medical School in year 1 and a student selected unit (SSU) in Respiratory Medicine in year 3 through lectures and ward-based teaching; additionally, students rotate through the Respiratory service during the clinical period, either as part of their training in general internal medicine or through elective attachments.
The post-holder will contribute to the weekly Respiratory meetings held on Thursday mornings which include Morbidity and Mortality Meetings.
Management duties
Southampton General Hospital established a clinical management system in 1986 which was extended throughout Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust in 1991. This system is one of the most highly developed Clinical Directorate organisations in the country. Its continuation is a matter of paramount importance and it will be carefully developed and enhanced to meet the needs of the trust as a major provider in the reforming NHS.
All staff in each Directorate are managerially accountable to the Clinical Director who has overall responsibility for the services within the Directorate. The medical directorate has Lead Consultants within each sub-specialty who also act as liaison between individual consultant teams and the Clinical Director.
Administrative duties
The post-holder will be required to:
1. undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients.
2. travel as necessary between units
General provisions
Subject to the provisions of the Terms and Conditions of Service, the post-holder will be expected to observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedures, drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instructions of the Trust.
In particular, where the post-holder manages employees of the Trust, he/she will be expected to follow the local and national employment and personnel policies and procedures. The post-holder will be expected to make sure that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of his/her patients and to be able to contact him/her when necessary.
Visiting
The main point of contact is Dr Tom Wilkinson (), Director of the Academic Respiratory Programme. For additional details about the clinical training of the post, candidates should contact Dr Ben Marshall () to arrange a visit to the clinical service.