I am an academic GP at Warwick University and my research interest is in all aspects of patient safety in primary care Quality and Safety in Primary Care (warwick.ac.uk).

I’d like to use this profile as a case study of a portfolio career in research and teach you how to get into research careers if you want to – follow the hyperlinks. Currently, I’m funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research | NIHR to develop resources to improve safety of older people coming home from hospital.

This project (GP-MATE) is funded by the largest research grant that our CCG has ever sponsored. The NIHR funded my PhD work investigating the safety of communication for older patients discharged from the hospital. I completed my doctoral work with Professor Anthony Avery at the University of Nottingham between 2014 and 2018, working part-time as a GP in Coventry. Prior to that, I worked with him when I was a GP trainee in prescribing safety research helping to develop prescribing indicators used by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

I worked on the multi-centre NIHR patient safety toolkit project for general practices which was adopted by the RCGP. In 2018 I was the West Midlands Clinical Research Network’s First 5 research champion promoting research in practice to young GPs across the region. I am a current member of the Society of Academic Primary Care executive committee since 2021, we are a not-for-profit that promotes academic GP and organises an annual conference. I work part-time as a GP in central Coventry and am also a mum to twins. I have worked as a GP in New Zealand on sabbatical posts in clinical and academic practice and can thoroughly recommend the overseas experience.

My journey into Academic General Practice began after I completed the Foundation Programme. I took a year out of training to undertake my Masters degree in the History of Medicine and a further year as a Clinical Teaching Fellow where I gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education.

I gained my first experience of research during my MA where I was able to spend time exploring the experiences of doctors and patients in a historical context. I thoroughly enjoyed developing my skills in qualitative research and saw how they could be reconstructed for modern clinical practice.

My enjoyment of research and teaching led me to successfully apply for an Academic Clinical Fellowship at the Unit of Academic Primary Care (Warwick Medical School) during my GP Training.  This role allowed me to balance my clinical and academic commitments and develop my interests and abilities.  During this time, I conducted my first research study using interviews to explore experiences of remote consulting for people living with CFS/ME or fibromyalgia.  I also contributed to other work, including peer review, systematic reviews, and editorial pieces for journals.

Since gaining my CCT, I have taken up a salaried role as a GP and an NIHR-funded In-Practice Fellowship.  I have also taken on the Research Lead role at my practice.  The Fellowship allows me time and funding to further develop my research skills and interests before hopefully applying for a PhD.

I can use my experiences in the ‘clinical world’ to guide my research aims; a notable example of this is my planned work focusing on GP registrars, remote consulting, and continuity of care.  Equally, I have been able to integrate my research findings and learning directly with my patients for improved care.  Academia allows me to pursue a varied career, even so early on, and whilst there are its own distinct challenges, I find that I am a happier GP with a mixture of work within my week.

My name is Sarah Hillman and I am a GP in South Warwickshire and an Academic Clinical lecturer and Associate Professor in Primary Care within the Unit of Academic Primary Care (UAPC) at Warwick Medical School. I have a keen clinical and academic interest in women’s health having spent time training in obstetrics and gynaecology and completing a PhD in prenatal testing (at the University of Birmingham in 2013) before changing training pathways to qualify as an academic GP in 2020.

I lead on the women, families, and Primary care theme within the UAPC and also co-lead the primary care arm of the Integrated academic primary care programme at Warwick which is responsible for training future academic GPs.

Since CCT I now lead my own programme of research looking at women’s health within primary and community care throughout a woman’s life course including PCOS, perinatal care, care following a pregnancy loss, perineal and incontinence care, vulval conditions, and menopause. In addition, I sit on the current NICE menopause guideline update committee, and I am a GP advisor for the MBRRACE reports. I also co-lead the Women’s health society of academic primary care (SAPC) special interest group and I teach the Health Sciences BSc and MBChB programmes at Warwick. Being an academic GP gives me a very varied and interesting career. If you are interested in becoming involved in research please do get in touch! Academic Primary Care

I have had quite a journey since my CCT in 2019. I was lucky that I got a great educational supervisor. With her guidance, my training and exams went smoothly. However, Covid started soon after and that was a challenging time for all of us.

I started working as a salaried GP at the practice where I was an ST2, as I had enjoyed working there and felt supported, so I went back to work there post-CCT. I started with six sessions and now work 5 sessions as I have picked up other roles along the way! While being a GP is stressful and the risk of burnout is real, there is no denying that the variety of clinical roles and opportunities possible as a GP is limitless. I have taken on various roles. Some of these were voluntary and some were paid. I have been First5 co-lead for Coventry & Warwickshire, part of the steering group for the New to Practice Programme and part of the team leading the second cohort of Next Generation GP Coventry & Warwickshire. This is a great programme and I would encourage all of you to attend it.

I am a member of RCGP Midlands Faculty and this has helped me get involved in events to support IMGs starting in Midlands and also understand the role of college better. All of these roles have helped me develop my interests outside of clinical responsibilities. Medical Education has always been a keen area of interest for me. I have masters in Medical Education from Warwick University. I am involved in both under and post-graduate medical education as a TPD for Black Country and as Honorary Senior Teaching Fellow at Warwick Medical School.

Another area of personal and professional interest is Learning Disability. I am the PCN Lead for Learning Disabilities and am also involved in a number of projects to improve care for our patients with Learning Disabilities & Autism. On a personal level, I am a mum of two, and one of them has Down Syndrome. Hence my passion and interest in this area. I am happy to be contacted and discuss this further if anyone is interested. I am involved with a local charity Ups of Downs.

In my free time, I like to meet friends, eat out, travel, and play golf. To all of my fellow First5 GPs, I would say find your own ‘work-life blend’ and keep working on it to make sure it suits your needs. My First 5 journey has been challenging, but it has also been rewarding. I have learned and grown so much while taking on various responsibilities and working on meaningful projects. I look forward to what the future holds and how I can continue to make a positive impact.

My name is Moyo Olasope and I’m a GP in Coventry. I currently work as a locum GP in a few surgeries within and outside Coventry. In addition to this, I work at the city of Coventry urgent treatment centre (Walk in centre) and the GP Out of hours centre in Coventry and Warwickshire as a GP.

I completed my GP training in 2019 and I have taken up a few roles since then. I started off as a locum GP and later decided to become a salaried GP. I found out soon enough that I needed a change back to my previous position as a locum. I later took up an academic role as a CBL facilitator at the Warwick medical school as I have an interest in medical education. Due to pressures in my work schedule and a few qualifications I’m undergoing training in, I have had to take a break from this. I am interested in weight loss and aesthetic medicine. I completed a Diploma in Lifestyle medicine in the past year and I’m a qualified lifestyle physician, I have also trained as a certified partner at the National Medical Weight Loss program to help people struggling with obesity lose weight safely with medications in addition to lifestyle changes. 

I try to maintain my work-life balance with my hobbies. I love travelling and exploring new places and countries. I enjoy watching movies. 

Being a GP  gives me the opportunity to diversify into different aspects of healthcare. There are countless pathways to toll in GP land. It’s all about finding where and what you are comfortable with and exploring that area.

My name is Dr Sasha Darwazeh and my professional journey started when I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2008 with a degree in medical biochemistry. My first job after university was as a sensory scientist at Cadbury, where I had the delicious privilege of being a professional chocolate taster!
However, my desire to make a more direct impact on people’s lives led me to pursue medicine. In 2009, I was accepted into Warwick Medical School to study medicine, and I eagerly embraced the opportunity. After completing my medical education, I embarked on GP training and was thrilled to be offered a salaried position at my ST2 practice in Coventry. The following year, I was honored to be offered a partnership.

In 2021, an exciting opportunity came my way. I was selected as a Trailblazer Fellow, a role that I hoped would increase my confidence in addressing health inequalities. This fellowship, inspired by the work of the Deep End group in Glasgow, allowed me to work more confidently in a practice that faced significant health disparities. The fellowship provided funded time for self-development, enabling me to pursue projects and attend educational programs at the local and national levels. It was an incredible experience that taught me invaluable lessons and expanded my knowledge and skills.

Currently, I serve as the lead GP of the parental leave support network within the Coventry and Warwickshire training hub. This is a new network, and, in this role, I hope to provide support and guide fellow General Practitioners before, during their parental leave, and upon their return to work, ensuring they have the resources and assistance they need.

Beyond my professional pursuits, I am also a proud mother of two. When I have the time, I indulge in my love for reading, travel, and drawing. Art has always been a passion of mine, but one that has taken a back seat to my career, and I strive to devote more time to my artwork. Additionally, I have an insatiable curiosity about the world and a desire to see more of it.

Embracing a range of roles and hobbies throughout my career so far keeps me engaged, fulfilled, and enthusiastic. The diverse experiences, continuous learning, and varied collaborations invigorate my professional journey, making it an exciting and enjoyable path to follow.

My name is Dave and I work as a Salaried GP, GP in A&E, and the Clinical Outreach Lead for the Leamington PCN.

I transferred from Yorkshire to Warwickshire for my GPST3, where I worked at Clarendon Lodge Medical Practice in Leamington Spa. I was offered a 6-session salaried position there and I went straight into this role following my CCT date. I was keen to get a base job as a salaried GP as a foundation for my income, training, and development. This role also gave me access to the new-to-practice fellowship scheme, where you get mentoring, teaching, and local support.

I have some experience working as a trust grade in Warwick A&E and so I also applied for the GP in A&E role. This is a GP specialty interest position that is paid at locum rates and is relatively flexible. The shifts are 12 hours and the workload is a mixture of acute presentations that in reality sit in between GP work and A+E majors patients; higher risk than community GP work but with more access to investigations. I work approximately 5 of these shifts per month.

My final role in my working week is as the Clinical Outreach Lead GP. This is a primary care network (PCN) role that is one session per week, paid at my salaried rate. I run an outreach clinic based in the community that aims to engage with people experiencing homelessness and those who find accessing general practice difficult. This has been an amazing opportunity to work in an area I am passionate about and be involved in service delivery, networking, and presenting. This role has required slightly more creativity and is a welcome way to break up my week.

I currently enjoy the balance I get as a portfolio GP; though my working week is now regularly over 10 sessions. I’m mindful that you can quite quickly fill your time and so choosing your extra interests wisely is important.

My name is Dr Hasham Ahmad and I graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2017. I initially pursued a career in Surgery, and undertook Core Surgical training which was Paediatric Surgery themed. During my training, I developed a highly academic professional profile whilst developing my procedural and surgical skills. Unfortunately, I was unable to continue my surgical training due to an underlying health condition, and this led me to my journey towards General Practice. I completed my VTS training in Coventry & Warwickshire with CCT in February 2024. 

During my VTS training, I undertook a Dermatology rotation, where I was able to develop my interest in both minor surgery and Dermatology. I was given a weekly surgical list for minor surgery and skin procedures. I further went on to complete my minor surgery and joint injections courses. 

I now work as part-time Salaried GP in North Warwickshire, offering both Minor Surgery & Joint injections. I also work part-time as Locum GP. From August 2024, I have secured a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Fellowship with NHS Midlands, which will allow me to develop passion for academia and education.

I recognise the importance of a work-life balance, ensuring enough time for one’s personal health, family and non-clinical roles, & I believe that GP allows me to be able to do this. I feel fulfilment in my work and empowered to make a real impact on patients’ lives. I am excited and inspired by the wide array of opportunities in General Practice, and I look forward to my career ahead as a Portfolio GP.

I am currently an interim Medical Director for NHSE Midlands (Systems Improvement and Professional Standards and a GP in Brinklow. I have had a lot of experience in clinical leadership. As a GP trainee, I completed an NIHR quality improvement fellowship and a Darzi clinical leadership fellowship.

In my ST4 year, I also did a population health course and gained practical experience working in an academic health science network on improving the outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation in the borough of Camden. After qualifying I completed a values-based healthcare course at Harvard whilst working at a company called Outcomes-Based Healthcare in London.

Following that experience, I became Cancer Clinical Lead for Camden CCG and worked to improve early cancer diagnosis and implementation of cancer care reviews for all. This involved consideration of health inequalities which were vast in the borough. I then moved to Warwickshire and joined the governing body of Warwickshire North CCG and then supported the merger of the three CCGs in Warwickshire and joined the governing body of the newly formed Coventry and Warwickshire CCG. At the same time, I worked for the Transforming Primary Care Team in London and supported primary care workforce recruitment and retention. I have also been a GP appraiser for 8 years. I am always happy to support those considering working in clinical leadership or those who are clinical leads and want some peer support. Do get in touch!

A bit about me. After studying medicine at Cambridge University, I initially pursued a career in Surgery, completing a 3-year rotation in London gaining valuable skills.  However, enjoying variety, I pursued a career in General Practice with the additional benefit of better work-life balance.

I undertook my GP training in London gaining MRCGP (Distinction) in 2007, with a particular interest in women’s health which I have been able to develop.

Initially, working as a Locum GP work allowed me to practice in different environments with varying populations, leading to becoming a Salaried GP in London to gain satisfaction from the continuity of care.

I relocated with my young family to the Midlands in 2016, drawing on locum experience pursuing a new part-time Salaried GP role. In 2017, I additionally trained in Aesthetics, working in a Clinic for 2 years, enjoying the practical aspects, but felt my skills were more suited to my medical role.

In 2020, I undertook leadership training with NHS Horizons, enabling collaboration to lead change in the NHS as a Lead Salaried GP, including hosting PLT teaching, negotiating work-life balance for Salaried GPs and improving patient care.

I currently work 4 sessions as a Salaried GP at a friendly practice in Coleshill alongside roles as a GPwER Gynaecology in a PCN Women’s Health clinic.  I find fulfillment in developing colleagues as a GP Mentor from 2020 and GP appraiser from 2022, gaining knowledge from others’ working practices along the way.

Whilst passionate about work, I recognise the need for work-life balance with family and continue varied outside interests including running, gardening and baking.  As a Portfolio GP, I feel lucky to have a career which has evolved with me and enabled me to achieve work-life balance.

I am a GP in South Warwickshire and have worked as GP Workforce Lead for our ICB (CCG) since 2019. I have recently stepped down from my regional role as Associate Dean for Midlands Primary Care School (HEE) where I was responsible for the 11 Midlands ICS Training Hubs, in addition to working closely with the two GP Schools. This role involved significant change management initiatives, embedding new ways of working and new roles (ARRS, etc), influencing stakeholders (Higher Education Institutes and ICSs, etc), and taking people on a journey….the “hearts and minds and sharing a vision” required to bring about large-scale change.

I have previously worked as a Training Programme Director for the GP School in Coventry and Warwickshire and was promoted to the Associate Dean role in 2020. I have a keen interest in clinical/medical education and hold an Honorary Clinical Lecturer position at Warwick Medical School.

When I qualified as a GP in 2014, I realised I was never going to fit the mould as a traditional GP partner. I was very keen on innovative care pathways and concurrent service design and delivery. I find the “grey” areas of interface working, workforce transformation, landscape uncertainty, and general chaos very rewarding and tend to seek out opportunities in these spaces. In 2016 became Clinical Lead GP for an innovative primary care service based in an acute trust delivering clinical services around an acute frailty pathway and a GP in ED pathway. An experience that provided exponential growth in my knowledge and understanding of everything from commissioning, provision, and workforce to influence, buy-in, and sharing a narrative.

I find fulfilment in work that allows me to feel useful, empowered, trusted and valued. I love people and am fascinated by what drives their choices, behaviours and perspectives – this allows me to work closely with both patients and peers in non-clinical roles.

Hi, I’m Nicola, a GP in South Warwickshire, the Clinical lead for CWTH, and a GP Appraiser. I also do some work for NHSE as a Complaints Reviewer and for the RCGP’s Primary Care Development Programme as Deputy Lead for the Programme and I am a mum to 2 primary school-aged boys.

I completed my undergraduate medical training in Cape Town, South Africa. After completing my house jobs, I became a Paediatric Speciality Trainee in the West Midlands and was awarded my MRCPCH before jumping ship and becoming a GP – I have never looked back. I have been a salaried GP, was a GP partner for about 8 years and did some locum work before diversifying my working week to include appraising and clinical leadership within the Training Hub and in my RCGP role. I love the variety and flexibility that this way of working offers me.

One of the great joys of being a GP is that there is so much out there that you can do, both clinically and in non-clinical roles, using your skills honed as a GP – it’s about working out what motivates you and what is important to you and then going for it. It’s not always easy, but can be hugely satisfying. Always happy to have a chat