Spotlight on Health Professional Researcher: Mr Peter Chessum

Peter, could you give us a brief summary of your current clinical role and route into a PhD, including previous research experience, and how this was funded?

In 2009, I moved to Birmingham and became an Emergency Care Advanced Clinical Practitioner (EC-ACP). EC-ACPs complete master’s degrees to expand their scope of practice, enabling them to see, treat, admit or discharge patients across the acuity spectrum in emergency departments. I was very fortunate to gain expert nursing and medical supervision to develop as a rounded clinician. I was invited to work with the Centre for Workforce Innovation, Department of Health, and Royal College of Emergency Medicine to develop a national competency framework for ACPs working in emergency care.

My introduction to National Institute of Health Research was via a research project called the Emergency Care Pathway and the Potential for Harm of Clinical Handover Failures (ECHO). This work identified potential harms from clinical handovers and organisational deficiencies that affect clinical handover. I joined the project to help with data collection but was grateful for the opportunity to be included in developing the analysis and discussion.

In 2016, I became the Lead ACP for Heart of England NHS Trust emergency department and had published and lectured in national forums about the role of ACPs. I was approached by several organisations to assist in the development of their ACP teams. I formed a company ADPRAC to provide consultancy advice and enable qualified EC-ACPs to role model their skills in other emergency departments. ADPRAC now employs over 70 staff and delivers clinicians to over twenty urgent care centres or emergency departments.

What are your long-term ambitions for your clinical academic career?

Health Education England has defined four pillars of advanced practice, clinical, facilitating learning leadership, and research. I aim to expand my research and teaching capabilities to round off my skills portfolio as a clinician and leader in the NHS.

What tip(s) would you give to a health professional starting out in academic research, e.g. a PhD or MD(Res)?

My tip if choosing a PhD, would be to consider working with supervisors from a non-clinical background. I have supervisors that are safety scientists, ergonomists, and health improvement experts. This diversity is a great strength for my research as it enables me to explore new ways of thinking in a safe environment.

What has been the most unexpected thing that has helped or hindered you in your clinical academic career to date? How have you dealt with/overcome any challenges?

A pandemic.

Working remotely is exceptionally difficult because you lack contact with other students facing the same academic challenges. Increasing the contact points with my supervisors to as much as once a week has helped me this year.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a clinical academic researcher?

I started the PhD because I wanted to develop my ability to think critically and understand how research could enhance quality improvement. After only the first year, I know that I think differently, which has benefited my career in many ways.

Published on 18 June 2021.