Judit Konya
Current Position: Academic Clinical Lecturer in General Practice
Research Field: Community pharmacies and early cancer detection
Why did you decide to undertake clinical academic training and what pathway have you taken so far?
I have always been interested in academic medicine. After completing my MD and successfully gaining entry to the GP training scheme in Cornwall, I was keen to advance my academic training. I applied to the University of Exeter and I was an Academic Clinical Fellow between 2016 and 2020. In 2022 I secured an NIHR-funded Academic Clinical Lectureship.
Why did you choose to conduct your clinical training at the University of Exeter and what are some of the highlights?
The highlights are wide-ranging expertise in world-leading academic research; leadership; support; funding resources; and opportunities to present my work and to develop professional networks.
What challenges have you faced during your clinical academic training and how have you overcome these?
Developing experience in new research methods is always exciting but can be challenging. The readily available support provided by colleagues and access to courses ensure that such challenges are easy to overcome.
What impact has clinical academic training had on your career and what are your next steps?
The impact of the academic training on my career is that I have become an academic GP. Currently, I am working on a project as a Principal Investigator and continue to develop my academic career by building professional networks, undertaking training in additional research methods, and developing leadership skills in order to progress my academic career to the next level.
What advice would you give to an aspiring clinical academic?
My advice is to find a good supervisor (we have plenty), and be open-minded while you develop your research interest.
