Rob,
I agree with the sort of funding that is required to set up a credible academic
unit. Within A&E there is still a tendency for low level academic activity (writing
books, review / opinion articles, presenting to conferences) to be well regarded.
This type of activity is only a start. We really should be aiming higher.
This comes back to the training question. Doing an MD is a good grounding,
but does not prepare you to run an academic department. (I am only just
learning how to put a good grant application together after two years!). Many
A&E academics will be going direct into posts where they will be trying to set
up an academic unit rather than learning the ropes as a Senior Lecturer in an
established department. Any ideas about how we can help? Use this forum to
exchange experience? Critique each other's grant applications? How can the
Faculty help? Do we need an "academics" meeting during the Faculty
conference? We have a national publications database, should we have a
grants database? Should we tell each other about grants coming up (compete
or co-operate)? Do I have too many questions?
Tim.
Timothy J Coats MD FRCS FFAEM
Senior Lecturer in Accident and Emergency / Pre-Hospital Care
Royal London Hospital, UK.
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