Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx) Blog
Posted by ma403
4 December 2024Integrating Clinical Practice, Research, and Leadership in Primary Care
Hello, my name is Dr. Serge Engamba, and I am delighted to join the APEx community. My career as an Academic GP spans clinical practice, research, and leadership, with a focus on advancing evidence-based care in primary care settings.
Currently, I am a GP at Oak Street Medical Practice in Norwich and the Research Lead for Norwich North Primary Care Network (PCN). My clinical work is grounded in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care, and my academic interests are driven by the challenges and opportunities Iāve observed in primary care.
A significant focus of my academic work is on relational continuity of care, which centres on maintaining ongoing therapeutic relationships between patients and their healthcare providers. Relational continuity is fundamental to improving patient outcomes, satisfaction, and healthcare efficiency. However, this essential aspect of primary care faces challenges due to staffing pressures, evolving healthcare models, and changing patient expectations.
To address these challenges, I am currently undertaking an NIHR Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowship (PCCCP), hosted by the Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx). My project involves conducting a realist review to explore interventions aimed at enhancing relational continuity. The review will unpack how, why, and under what conditions these interventions succeed, providing practical insights to support policymakers, clinicians, and researchers in designing effective strategies to improve continuity in diverse settings.
Alongside my focus on relational continuity, I have a strong interest in commercial research and its integration into primary care. I have contributed as Chief Investigator to commercially funded studies, including projects on hypertension management and metabolic disease diagnostics. These initiatives highlight the potential of industry partnerships to drive innovation, benefiting patients while strengthening the research capacity of primary care.
I also led the successful NIHR CRN East of England Research Site Initiative (RSI) cluster bid, which established the Norwich PCN Research Hub. This hub serves as a model for embedding research into routine practice, enabling clinicians to participate in studies that directly impact patient care. The success of this initiative underscores the importance of collaborative leadership in bridging clinical practice and academic research.
In my role as Deputy Chair of the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) and co-founder of the Norwich Primary Care Research Forum, I have worked to create networks that empower clinicians to engage with research. By fostering a culture of innovation, these platforms support clinicians in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.
My contributions to research and leadership have been recognised through awards, including the RCGP/NIHR First5Ā® Award and the NIHR CRN East of England Research Award. These accolades reflect my commitment to advancing research that is both rigorous and directly applicable to the realities of primary care.
Joining APEx provides an exciting opportunity to collaborate with like-minded colleagues who are passionate about improving primary care. I look forward to contributing to this vibrant community and learning from the wealth of expertise here.
If you share my interests or are keen to collaborate, Iād be delighted to connect.
