Feeding a Passion for Research: A Dietician's Clinical Academic Career Journey
Description
In this episode of Clinical Research Career Conversations, host Jo Merrifield speaks with Sean White, a specialist dietitian and postdoctoral clinical academic, to explore how a passion for patient care can evolve into a thriving research career.
Sean shares how his clinical work with people receiving enteral feeding sparked his curiosity about shared decision-making, eventually leading him through the NIHR Clinical Academic Pathway—from a Master’s in Research Methods to a Doctoral Fellowship and PhD. He discusses how collaboration within multidisciplinary teams has shaped his work, how his research has influenced his clinical practice, and what it means to translate evidence into better patient outcomes.
For anyone considering a clinical academic career, Sean offers candid advice on persistence, networking, mentorship, and creating space for research within clinical roles. His story is an inspiring example of how curiosity, collaboration, and resilience can drive professional growth and impact across healthcare.
United States
