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.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and hear Gail’s story of clinical academia, research and the moments that shaped her career.

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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.

Our host, Dr Judith Johnson, introduces a new Manchester Catalys Podcast series - Clinical Academia: Getting Started. Listen to find our what to expect from this news series and how it could benefit your research career! Search Clinical Academia: Getting Started to listen!

This episode features Professor Dawn Edge, whose research has shone a light on some of healthcare's most persistent inequalities. Focusing on mental health, ethnicity, and underserved communities, Dawn has spent her career investigating why some groups experience poorer health outcomes and what can be done to change this.

Join us as we explore Dawn's journey from clinician to internationally recognised researcher, discussing the experiences that shaped her career, the challenges she has faced along the way, and her determination to pursue research that makes a meaningful difference to people's lives. Along the way, Dawn shares valuable insights for aspiring clinical academics, reflecting on resilience, finding your research passion, and staying committed to the questions that matter most.

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 sevensecrets 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 researchambitions.

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 advanceddressings—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.

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'sjourney 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.

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.

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.

This episode featuresProfessor Frank Bowling, MBE, whose extraordinary career spans podiatricsurgery, research, and global humanitarian work. With over 250 publications, 6books, and four doctorates, Frank brings unique perspectives as aneurodivergent healthcare provider specializing in diabetic foot complications.Join us to explore his journey from 1970s Bolton to becoming a respectedsurgeon while holding professorships at five European universities. We'lldiscuss how neurodivergence has shaped his prolific career, his experiencesdelivering healthcare in disaster-stricken areas worldwide—work that earned himan MBE in 2023—and his commitment to balancing research alongside clinical andhumanitarian efforts, offering valuable insights for those aspiring to similarpaths.