Humans of Clinical Academia Podcast

Watch the Humans of Clinical Academia series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjI7quBwenDvZX_8F7oE-htWa2uq1D2Og
Hear honest career stories from clinicians who combine healthcare practice with research.

What is it really like to build a career that combines clinical practice, education, research and professional leadership?

In this episode of Humans of Clinical Academia, we meet Professor Gill Harrison, a radiographer and sonographer whose career spans almost 35 years across clinical practice, education and research.

Gill has been at the forefront of sonography in the UK, from leading ultrasound programmes at City, University of London to shaping national and international policy through her work as Professional Officer for Ultrasound at the Society and College of Radiographers.

Her research has explored some of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of sonography: from workforce shortages and training, to work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the emotional challenges of delivering unexpected news during obstetric ultrasound scans.

In this conversation, Gill shares the story behind her career, what first drew her towards radiography and ultrasound, and how research became an important part of her professional identity.

We explore:

• The human and emotional side of ultrasound and what happens when a sonographer has to deliver unexpected news
• Why Gill became interested in researching the physical and emotional demands of sonography
• Her work around workforce development, education and the future of the sonographic profession
• The importance of coaching, leadership and supporting the next generation of healthcare professionals
• The reality of combining clinical practice, research, education and professional leadership
• Some of the toughest and most fulfilling moments of Gill's career
• Why so many healthcare professionals are interested in research, but never take that first step
• Practical advice for sonographers and allied health professionals who are curious about research but don't know where to begin

Gill also shares one piece of advice she would give to herself at the very beginning of her career.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Humans of Clinical Academia
01:18 Meet Gill: the human side of ultrasound
03:23 Growing up and an early interest in healthcare
05:06 From radiography into ultrasound
06:26 An unplanned career path
08:04 Moving from clinical work into education
09:02 When research came into the picture
10:25 The physical and emotional demands of sonography
13:44 Why the ASCKS framework was needed
15:40 Challenges and opportunities for the sonography workforce
17:54 Coaching and supporting future leaders
19:51 The biggest myth about clinical academic life
20:44 What Gill's working life looks like now
22:25 Toughest moments: leading through the pandemic
27:22 Coping with criticism and looking after yourself
29:51 The most uplifting moments
30:50 What holds clinicians back from research?
32:20 Advice when fear is the main barrier
34:50 Advice to her younger self
35:46 Imposter syndrome and giving yourself permission
38:24 Thanks and closing reflections

Humans of Clinical Academia is a Manchester Catalys podcast exploring the real stories behind clinical academic careers. Through honest conversations with nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and other healthcare professionals involved in research, we're showing that there is no single route into clinical academia, and that research really is for everyone.

Gill also features in our companion series, Clinical Academia: Getting Started, where she discusses the barriers that can prevent clinicians from moving into research and shares practical advice for taking that first step.

Manchester Catalys supports non-medical registered healthcare professionals at MFT or The University of Manchester with one-to-one research advice, career-stage networks, and weekly funding and training updates. Monthly research seminars are open to everyone.

Learn more: https://mft.nhs.uk/research/manchester-catalys/
Contact: catalys@manchester.ac.uk
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@ManchesterCatalys?sub_confirmation=1

#HumansOfClinicalAcademia #ManchesterCatalys #ClinicalAcademia #Sonography #Radiography #HealthcareResearch #AHPResearch #ResearchIsForEveryone

Watch the Humans of Clinical Academia series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjI7quBwenDvZX_8F7oE-htWa2uq1D2Og
Hear honest career stories from clinicians who combine healthcare practice with research.

What does it take to build a career in clinical academia, and what happens when your research challenges the way we think about care?

In this episode of Humans of Clinical Academia, we’re joined by Professor Gail Mountain, whose career has spanned occupational therapy, research and innovation, with a particular focus on how technology and digital approaches can support people to live well.

Gail shares her journey from occupational therapist to internationally recognised researcher, reflecting on the experiences that shaped her research interests, the challenges of building a clinical academic career, and the importance of keeping the people and communities you work with at the heart of research.

We explore what it means to ask questions that matter, navigate change within healthcare, and stay connected to your clinical roots while developing a career in research.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome to Humans of Clinical Academia
00:51 Meet Gail: prevention and the future of health services
03:06 Why occupational therapy?
05:26 From clinical practice into research
08:07 Taking a pay cut to start in research
08:43 Meaning, participation and following the funding
12:00 The Future Bathroom and letting others lead
13:20 Staying connected to policy and the profession
14:51 Working with the EPSRC
16:49 Research impact and KT-EQUAL
18:20 Technology and dementia: opportunities and risks
22:01 The biggest myth about clinical academic life
22:43 What academic life actually involves
24:54 Toughest moments and rebuilding confidence
28:45 Highlights: travelling the world through research
30:20 Barriers and enablers for occupational therapists
31:55 Advice for occupational therapists starting out
32:38 Advice to her younger self
33:29 Thanks and closing

NEXT VIDEO
Occupational Therapist to Researcher: How to Get Started: https://youtu.be/2Gi6T1mO9Mk

Manchester Catalys supports non-medical registered healthcare professionals at MFT or The University of Manchester with one-to-one research advice, career-stage networks, and weekly funding and training updates. Monthly research seminars are open to everyone.

Learn more: https://mft.nhs.uk/research/manchester-catalys/
Contact: catalys@manchester.ac.uk
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@ManchesterCatalys?sub_confirmation=1

#HumansOfClinicalAcademia #ClinicalAcademia #OccupationalTherapy #HealthcareResearch #ManchesterCatalys

This episode features Professor Soo Downe OBE, whose research has reshaped how we think about pregnancy and birth. For decades Soo has asked what good maternity care actually looks like, championing physiological birth, compassion and kindness as clinical concerns rather than soft extras, and questioning intervention that does not serve women and families. Alongside a large body of research spanning ethnography, trials and international survey work, she has helped shape global thinking on maternity care through her work at the University of Central Lancashire and beyond.

Join us as we trace Soo's path from clinical midwife to internationally recognised researcher, discussing where her commitment to women's experiences came from, what it has cost to challenge the medicalisation of childbirth, and the moments when system change felt out of reach. Soo also shares candid reflections on staying true to your values inside academia, what clinicians most often misunderstand about research, and why midwifery needs more of its own people asking the questions.

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In this finale episode of Humans of Clinical Academia, Judith Johnson is joined by co-host Steve Rogers to reflect on the fascinating interviews from Season 1. Drawing from the candid conversations Judith has had with leading clinical academics throughout the season, they unpack seven secrets that underpin successful clinical academic careers—from embracing fear to building meaningful teams. Join them as they explore how these principles can help anyone balancing the demands of healthcare practice with research ambitions

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This episode features Professor Dame Nicky Cullum, whose ground-breaking research has revolutionized wound care. With over 260 published papers, Nicky investigates which treatments truly work, from maggot therapy to advanced dressings—identifying options that are effective, patient-friendly, and cost-efficient. Her unique perspective combines nursing practice with academic training in pharmacology, bringing scientific rigor to a field where biology, medicine, and technology intersect. Join us as we trace Nicky's path from 1960s Leeds to receiving her Damehood, exploring her early transition to research, her influential Cochrane work, and her belief that "crushing disappointments can lead to the best opportunities." We'll also uncover her writing process, offering valuable insights for aspiring clinical academics who find this aspect of research particularly daunting.

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This episode features Professor Rachel Elliott, who bridges pharmacy and economics to transform healthcare spending. Is the £1.2 trillion global pharmaceutical budget being used wisely? As one of the UK's first pharmacists trained in health economics, Rachel evaluates whether expensive treatments and technologies truly deliver value. With over 150 published papers and £58 million in research funding, she ensures healthcare financial decisions are evidence-based rather than assumption-driven. Join us to explore Rachel's journey from ICU pharmacy specialist to pioneering health economist, how she faced criticism that she "no longer cared for patients," her guidance for clinicians entering research, and her insights from chairing NIHR fellowship awards while navigating both clinical and academic worlds.

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This episode features Professor Karina Lovell, whose ground-breaking research has challenged fundamental assumptions about psychological therapy. Moving beyond the traditional model of weekly face-to-face sessions, Karina has proven that effective therapy can be delivered through phone calls, online platforms, and even without therapists—sometimes focusing instead on physical activity or building social connections. With over 270 published papers, her influential work has transformed mental health treatment globally. Join us as we explore Karina's journey from mental health nurse to pioneering researcher, discussing her experiences working internationally in Kenya and Pakistan and her remarkable success in securing research funding.

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This episode features Professor Katherine Berry, whose research bridges a key debate in mental health: are psychological conditions biological or social in origin? Katherine’s breakthrough research shows that our early relationships with caregivers—our "attachment"—plays a role in schizophrenia symptoms later in life. With over 200 published papers, she's helped change how we understand mental health by showing the importance of childhood bonds alongside biological factors. Join us to explore Katherine’s research, how she got into academia, and how she has overcome the challenges she’s faced along the way.

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