Humans of Clinical Academia

What is it really like to build a career that combines clinical practice, education, research and professional leadership?In this episode of Humans of Clinical Academia, we meet Professor Gill Harrison, a radiographer and sonographer whose career spans almost 35 years across clinical practice, education and research.Gill has been at the forefront of sonography in the UK, from leading ultrasound programmes at City, University of London to shaping national and international policy through her work as Professional Officer for Ultrasound at the Society and College of Radiographers.Her research has explored some of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of sonography: from workforce shortages and training, to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the emotional challenges of delivering unexpected news during obstetric ultrasound scans.In this conversation, Gill shares the story behind her career, what first drew her towards radiography and ultrasound, and how research became an important part of her professional identity.We explore:• The human and emotional side of ultrasound and what happens when a sonographer has to deliver unexpected news• Why Gill became interested in researching the physical and emotional demands of sonography• Her work around workforce development, education and the future of the sonographic profession• The importance of coaching, leadership and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals• The reality of combining clinical practice, research, education and professional leadership• Some of the toughest and most fulfilling moments of Gill's career• Why so many healthcare professionals are interested in research, but never take that first step• Practical advice for sonographers and allied health professionals who are curious about research but don't know where to beginGill also shares one piece of advice she would give to herself at the very beginning of her career.Humans of Clinical Academia is a Manchester Catalys podcast exploring the real stories behind clinical academic careers. Through honest conversations with nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and other healthcare professionals involved in research, we're showing that there is no single route into clinical academia, and that research really is for everyone.🎧 Interested in getting started with research?Gill also features in another Manchester Catalys podcast episode, Clinical Academia: Getting Started, where she discusses the barriers that can prevent clinicians from moving into research and shares practical advice for taking that first step.Manchester Catalys is a partnership between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester, supporting nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, social workers and clinical psychologists to explore and develop research careers.📩 Find out more or get in touch: [email protected]#HumansOfClinicalAcademia #ManchesterCatalys #ClinicalAcademia #Sonography #Radiography #HealthcareResearch #AHPResearch #ResearchIsForEveryone

What does it take to build a career in clinical academia, and what happens when your research challenges the way we think about care? 🎙️In this episode of Humans of Clinical Academia, we’re joined by Professor Gail Mountain, whose career has spanned occupational therapy, research and innovation, with a particular focus on how technology and digital approaches can support people to live well.Gail shares her journey from occupational therapist to internationally recognised researcher, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her research interests, the challenges of building a clinical academic career, and the importance of keeping the people and communities you work with at the heart of research.We explore what it means to ask questions that matter, navigate change within healthcare, and stay connected to your clinical roots while developing a career in research.🎧 Listen to the full episode and hear Gail’s story of clinical academia, research and the moments that shaped her career.Follow Manchester Catalys for more stories, insights and inspiration from the world of clinical academia.#HumansOfClinicalAcademia #ClinicalAcademia #OccupationalTherapy #OTResearch #ClinicalAcademic #NHSResearch #ManchesterCatalys

This episode features Professor Soo Downe OBE, whose research has reshaped how we think about pregnancy and birth. For decades Soo has asked what good maternity care actually looks like, championing physiological birth, compassion and kindness as clinical concerns rather than soft extras, and questioning intervention that does not serve women and families. Alongside a large body of research spanning ethnography, trials and international survey work, she has helped shape global thinking on maternity care through her work at the University of Central Lancashire and beyond.Join us as we trace Soo's path from clinical midwife to internationally recognised researcher, discussing where her commitment to women's experiences came from, what it has cost to challenge the medicalisation of childbirth, and the moments when system change felt out of reach. Soo also shares candid reflections on staying true to your values inside academia, what clinicians most often misunderstand about research, and why midwifery needs more of its own people asking the questions.

Our host, Dr Judith Johnson, introduces a new Manchester Catalys Podcast series - Clinical Academia: Getting Started. Listen to find our what to expect from this news series and how it could benefit your research career! Search Clinical Academia: Getting Started to listen!

This episode features Professor Dawn Edge, whose research has shone a light on some of healthcare's most persistent inequalities. Focusing on mental health, ethnicity, and underserved communities, Dawn has spent her career investigating why some groups experience poorer health outcomes and what can be done to change this.Join us as we explore Dawn's journey from clinician to internationally recognised researcher, discussing the experiences that shaped her career, the challenges she has faced along the way, and her determination to pursue research that makes a meaningful difference to people's lives. Along the way, Dawn shares valuable insights for aspiring clinical academics, reflecting on resilience, finding your research passion, and staying committed to the questions that matter most.