Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Posted by ma403
25 October 2024Attending my first School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) Trainee event marked a significant milestone in my Post Doctoral Fellowship, researching physical activity promotion in Primary Care. Fresh from the excitement of being awarded a SPCR Funded fellowship, I arrived at the Manchester Marriott Piccadilly Hotel, eager to immerse myself in the programme of events. The award was a validation of my hard work, the support and mentorship from fantastic colleagues and a stepping stone to further developing my career as an independent researcher keen to establish a physical activity hub within Primary Care. Being able to attend the event, hosted by the University of Manchester, added another layer of excitement, especially with the opportunity to connect with other award holders and key figures within the SPCR community.
One of the highlights was meeting other SPCR fellows from a broad range of backgrounds. This diversity of experience and expertise created a dynamic environment for discussions, with shared insights from different fields contributing to a rich exchange of ideas. Alongside fellow award holders, I also had the privilege of engaging with SPCR board members and training leads from various institutions. It was fascinating to see the range of research topics being explored, and I gained valuable insights into how others were navigating their early research careers.
The event opened with a warm welcome from Professor Christian Mallen, the SPCR Director from the University of Manchester. His address set the tone for the day, reinforcing the importance of primary care research and how we, as trainees, are part of shaping its future. The inclusion of key training leads emphasized SPCR’s commitment to supporting early career researchers, and I felt reassured knowing I was part of such a nurturing and forward-thinking community. Networking was a key part of the event, and the organisers had thoughtfully structured several sessions to facilitate introductions and collaborations. These sessions provided the perfect chance to learn about our peers’ projects and explore potential opportunities for future collaboration.
Two parallel masterclasses offered during the day stood out as particularly useful. I attended the sessions on ‘Policy Engagement’ and ‘Publishing and promoting your research’, both packed with pragmatic advice that we could implement as we navigate our research field. The policy engagement masterclass shed light on how to make research more impactful by engaging with policymakers and the routes and skills we need to do this. Meanwhile, the session on publishing was invaluable, offering tips on successfully promoting our research to the right audiences. It left me we several ideas for blogs that will highlight my research projects to Journals, potentially making it more likely to publish future study findings.
The lightning talks, where we shared the progress of our research projects, were one of the most engaging aspects of the event. Presenting in front of my cohort and receiving constructive feedback was incredibly beneficial. The insights I gained from these discussions have given me a lot to think about as I move forward with my fellowship and I look forward to presenting my progress next year.
After a productive day of learning and sharing, the evening meal was a fantastic way to unwind. We enjoyed a delicious three-course meal, followed by a quiz— which, to our delight, we won! Shout out to Stella on this one! This informal social setting allowed for even more networking and helped cement the sense of camaraderie within the group.
The second day featured workshops on co-production and equality, diversity, and inclusion. These sessions highlighted the importance of integrating these principles into our research. The attention to detail in the way the organisers structured the event was evident, with a perfect balance between interactive workshops and networking opportunities. They had clearly considered our training needs and ensured that the event would support us in by giving us pragmatic and implementable advice. As I left Manchester, I felt inspired and energized, ready to dive into my fellowship project. I am already looking forward to returning next year to share my progress and continue building on the connections I made this year.
