Maame – detailed transcript
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Hi, everyone.
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Today I'm
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diving into a career
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that's often misunderstood,
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which is research in health and care.
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Today, I'm
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going to try and find some
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amazing professionals.
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Talk about what it really means
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Exploring research careers
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to work in research.
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Let's see if anyone's in here.
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Hi, Maame.
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Sorry to interrupt your lunch,
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Do you have a few minutes
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to be in our video today?
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We're talking about research careers.
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Sure.
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I was just finishing up.
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Maame,
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You've been
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a Clinical Research Practitioner
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for a while now.
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Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you got into research?
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Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you got into research?
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Of course.
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I qualified as an
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Operating Department Practitioner (ODP)
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in 2015 and started off
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as an Anaesthetic ODP.
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I wasn't initially drawn to research,
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I thought it was all paperwork and admin,
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but in 2018,
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I took a secondment in research
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and I was pleasantly surprised with
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how hands on it was.
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I've never looked back -
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and then I was offered
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a permanent contract
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as a Clinical Research Practitioner.
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So I get to use both my skills
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as an ODP in a research setting.
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So, what are your main responsibilities as an ODP working in research?
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What are your main responsibilities as an ODP working in research?
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My role is still very patient focused.
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I meet patients before, during,
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and after surgery,
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and follow them up
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throughout their recovery.
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Sometimes for up to a year.
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I do everything
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from recruiting patients into studies,
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getting their consent,
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taking their observations,
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and collecting data.
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That's amazing.
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Can you give us an example of the kind of research studies you’re involved in?
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Can you give us an example of the kind of research studies you’re involved in?
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Sure.
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One study I'm working on compares
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methods of administering anaesthesia
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to see which gives patients
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a better recovery.
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I also
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work on studies
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that look at post-surgery recovery
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for cardiac patients
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and how pain levels compare before
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and after surgery.
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All these studies
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focus on improving patient outcomes.
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It's really rewarding.
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That sounds like you still have
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a lot of patient interaction.
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Did having a lot of patient interaction surprise you about research?
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Did having a lot of patient interaction surprise you about research?
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Definitely.
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In my previous role,
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I'd only see patients during surgery,
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and then I wouldn't see them again.
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Now I get to build these longer term
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relationships with them,
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which is really rewarding.
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Research isn't just about sitting
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at a desk -
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it's about improving
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patient care and outcomes
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in real time.
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And how would you say your work life balance is?
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How would you say your work life balance is?
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That’s a huge plus.
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I only work four days a week,
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8am to 6 pm, with no weekends.
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It gives me the chance
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to pick up bank shifts,
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which I only do about once a month though.
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I love my work hours.
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It's allowed me to focus
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on my personal life and further
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my studies without feeling overwhelmed.
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That’s great.
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You mentioned that you’re
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furthering your studies
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Have you found any opportunities for career progression?
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Have you found any opportunities for career progression?
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Absolutely.
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Right now
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I've just completed my Master's
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in Public Health,
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which I'll be graduating from later
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this year.
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Research has given me the flexibility
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to further my education,
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and is opening doors for me.
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There’s so much room for career progression,
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whether it's through specialised roles
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or even leadership positions
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within the research teams.
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Thanks so much, Maame.
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It sounds like research is
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Where the future is.
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Definitely.
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Let's keep pushing
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health and care forward.
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NIHR National Institute for Health and Care Research
Find out how to start your research career in the NHS
rdn.nihr.ac.uk/research-experience-london