Ian Simcock

What is your current role?

I’m a Clinical Academic Radiographer at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH).

What did you do before and how did you move into this role?

I’ve worked as a clinical radiographer for over 25 years, both overseas and in the UK, since I finished my diagnostic radiography degree at Keele University in 1996. I developed my skills through dedicated training in both CT and MRI to become a senior radiographer teaching others advanced techniques within these areas.

Throughout my career I’ve been involved in research and have always looked for ways to develop this aspect. To further realise my potential, I completed my MSc with distinction in diagnostic radiography at the University of Hertfordshire in 2010. My research dissertation was on MRI and diffusion imaging, an area I was developing as part of my clinical role. During this period, I worked in an oncology centre as the deputy superintendent of research for 10 years, yet I was frustrated at not completing my own studies and was looking for opportunities to expand my skills to become a principal investigator.

In 2016 I was seconded to a team at GOSH to develop post-mortem imaging at the hospital and was successfully funded in 2018 by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), one of only a handful of radiographers, to complete my doctoral study into developing micro-CT for human fetal postmortem
imaging following a miscarriage, which I’ve now completed. Alongside a team of radiology and pathology professionals, I’ve developed a novel clinical post-mortem micro-CT service that scans over 250 patients a year.

I’m continuing to develop my postdoctoral research funding strategies and studies. I have been funded through two postdoctoral bridging grants from the University College London (UCL) Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (GOS ICH) and Health Education England (HEE). I’ve also obtained the NIHR Development and Skills Enhancement Award to prepare me by developing key academic research skills to successfully attract further funding and complete clinically impactful research for patients and families.

How else have you developed skills and knowledge to become a clinical academic?

I’ve actively sought opportunities to be involved and develop my research role and career. Sometimes this has meant moving to be able to maximise these opportunities. I’ve also seized any possibilities I could find and regularly pushed myself out of my comfort zone to be able to advance as a researcher. This has involved being on panels and groups, both inside and outside radiography, leading journal paper submissions and developing national guidance documents with other professional colleagues. Having these outside interests has been extremely rewarding and has allowed me to be influential in new and exciting areas of research and career development.

What support has been helpful?

I’ve benefited hugely from a team of supportive colleagues at GOSH, including the lead radiographer and academic lead radiologist, and the Centre for Outcomes and Experience Research in Children’s Health Illness and Disability (ORCHID) team, a diverse group of health professionals experienced in developing clinical academic careers, as well as, of course, support from my family. Without this support I would not have been so successful or have navigated this complicated clinical academic pathway. Motivation and encouragement are so important in these roles.

What’s the most rewarding part of what you do?

I really enjoy working alongside other clinical and academic staff, both within and external to radiology, to make a real difference to patients and their families. The clinical micro-CT service for human fetal postmortem imaging following a miscarriage is a novel and innovative way for parents to try to find out (in a non-invasive manner) why their baby died. Without this technique, parents may feel unable to consent to an invasive conventional autopsy and therefore never find out the reasons for their baby’s death. Completing research to help these parents and provide a genuinely innovative clinical service is immensely rewarding and I look forward to continuing my future research.

Is there any advice you can give potential clinical academics?

Go for it! By talking to other staff members and experts in the field, radiographers will find that researchers often relish the opportunity to discuss their work and will be only too happy for you to get involved in research. If you are interested, it is invaluable to gain experience of research in any format, whether that is reading journal papers, helping out in a study, completing audits in your department or completing courses to develop your
skills. My main advice would be to get involved!