Benjamin Geers
Current Position: Specialist Foundation Programme Trainee
Research Field: My main interest is within the field of Child and Adolescent eating disorders psychiatry. My main research question is investigating the link between disordered eating and medical diagnosis of eating disorders, using MHCYP 2017 and ALSPAC datasets. I aim to help improve the early detection and management of eating disorders in children and young people.
Why did you decide to undertake clinical academic training and what pathway have you taken so far?
I decided to undertake clinical academic training to fulfil my long-term goal of working as a clinical academic psychiatrist. I wanted to ensure that I developed strong academic skills and gain relevant academic experience alongside my clinical training. I find the prospect of undertaking impactful research which can inform and improve clinical practice exciting.
Why did you choose to conduct your clinical training at the University of Exeter and what are some of the highlights?
I chose to conduct my clinical training at the University of Exeter due to the opportunity to work with the fantastic Children and Young People’s Mental Health (ChYMe) Research collaboration, and by supervised by Dr Tamsin Newlove-Delgado. The ChYMe research group is highly collaborative and has produced impactful research and evidence-based policy to improve the lives or children and young people. ChYMe is a multidiciplinary collaboration, and I have been able to learn from colleagues with backgrounds in Public Health, Psychiatry and Psychology. To be able to learn from colleagues from such broad academic and clinical backgrounds has been invaluable as an early stage clinical academic.
I have been lucky enough to be supervised by Dr Tamsin Newlove-Delgado who has a background in psychiatry and public health. Throughout my SFP I have had the opportunity to learn from her expertise in both psychiatric and public health research, giving me new perspectives and skills.
What challenges have you faced during your clinical academic training and how have you overcome these?
Whilst applying for an SFP, I would often read about the time management challenges and portfolio commitments that SFP doctors would have to fulfil whilst undergoing clinical academic training. I have found that this has been particularly challenging in my F2, especially whilst being involved in several different projects.
I found that preparing as much academic work as possible in F1, and discussing my academic plans with my academic supervisor helped me be as prepared as possible. Starting work on my clinical portfolio as early as possible in F2 also helped me feel that I was on track to complete my clinical portfolio requirements during this busy year. I have found that communicating with my supervisors to let them know when I am particularly busy and may have to alter deadlines when situations change to be very helpful, I believe it is better to be transparent and let colleagues know as soon as possible if previously agreed deadlines may need to change when clinical workload increases.
What impact has clinical academic training had on your career and what are your next steps?
I am so glad that I was fortunate enough to be selected for a reaserch SFP based in Exeter, I have found the academic and clinical training opportunities to be invaluable to me. Due to how much I have enjoed and valued my SFP in Exeter, I aspire to continue clinical academic training based in Peninsula, and I have recently applied for a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry ACF to continue my work here.
What advice would you give to an aspiring clinical academic?
My advice would be to read about research groups and researchers based in Exeter that align to your clinical academic interests and contact them. All the clinical academics I have met in Exeter have been really friendly, and would be happy to offer guidance and explain more about their work. My final piece of advice would be to apply for clinical academic training in Exeter!
