The GP+ Careers Podcast

By Royal College of General Practitioners

Brought to you by the RCGP, the GP+ Careers podcast, hosted by Dr Sophie Lumley aims to showcase the breadth and diversity of careers you can develop as a GP.

Dr Lumley interviews GPs who do ... more

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FAQs about The GP+ Careers Podcast:

How many episodes does The GP+ Careers Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.

The GP+ Careers Podcast episodes:

November 21, 202519: GP+ Health Inequalities with Dr Rachel Steen
This month, podcast host Dr Sophie Lumley interviews Dr Rachel Steen, a GP focused on health inequalities. Dr Steen discusses her work running the National Trailblazer scheme, a post-certification fellowship offering professional development and project time for GPs working in areas of deprivation. The episode covers Dr Steen's career journey, the value of leadership fellowships and professional coaching in developing her interest, and practical advice for other GPs interested in tackling health inequalities, emphasising peer support, local project involvement, and networking.

Top Tips

Seek opportunities that offer protected development time
Fellowships and funded programmes can create the space needed to explore new interests, build skills and step into leadership roles. Rachel highlights the Trailblazer fellowship as one example and encourages interested GPs to look at what is available locally through training hubs, academic units of primary care, Primary Care Network (PCNs) or Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), as well as national programmes.
Make use of coaching to clarify your direction
Coaching provided a space for Rachel to reflect, challenge unhelpful assumptions and explore her personal values that guide her work e.g. fairness, integrity and inclusivity. Understanding what matters most to you can guide career decisions and help you recognise when something feels aligned or not.
Build and maintain supportive networks
Post-CCT, the support networks of training often fall away. Rachel recommends actively rebuilding this through joining peer groups and leadership programmes e.g. Next Generation GP leadership programme. Staying connected with colleagues can spark new ideas, provide motivation and create a sense of belonging, especially for those exploring emerging or less traditional roles.
Reach out to people who inspire you
Rachel emphasises that many opportunities start with a simple conversation or reaching out via email. Contacting clinicians or leaders whose work interests you can open doors to new ideas, collaborations or mentoring relationships. Don't be afraid to ask, as most people are happy to share their experiences and give you advice.
Start with local projects and apply a health-equity lens
Inclusion health doesn’t require formal accreditation. Rachel recommends beginning with what's happening in your own practice or PCN and considering how interventions can better reach the people who are most in need. Small, thoughtful changes can be the foundation of a meaningful and sustainable interest.
Further reading

GPwER in Population Health and Health Inequalities Framework: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/population-health-inequalities-introduction

RCGP Health equity special interest group: www.rcgp.org.uk/about/communities-groups/health-inequalities

RCGP Health Inequalities Hub: elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=459

RCGP Mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

Trailblazer scheme/fellowship: www.fairhealth.org.uk/trailblazer

The Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health: www.pathway.org.uk/the-faculty/

Next Generation GP leadership programme: https://nextgenerationgp.co.uk/

Future leaders programme: www.yorksandhumberdeanery.nhs.uk/education/future_leaders_programme

Dr Rachel Steen is a GP working in Sheffield. She is National Director of the Trailblazer scheme supporting GPs working in areas of deprivation across the England. Rachel has an interest in inclusive leadership and how we support our primary care workforce working in areas of deprivation and with inclusion health groups. Rachel sits on the Health Equity Special Interest Group at the RCGP.

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30min
October 24, 202518: GP+ Career Coaching with Dr Sarah Goulding
In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, host Dr Sophie Lumley is joined by Dr Sarah Goulding, a portfolio GP and career coach for medical professionals. Sarah shares her journey to becoming a coach, which was fuelled by her own experience with burnout and a desire to support others, and details how her coaching work fits into her flexible portfolio GP career. Furthermore, the episode addresses practical considerations for aspiring coaches, such as the value of obtaining a coaching diploma, the importance of supervision for self-care and professional development, and the entrepreneurial challenges of setting up a private coaching business.

Top Tips

Experience coaching yourself first
If you are considering becoming a coach, the single most important initial tip is to have some coaching yourself so that you understand what it actually is. It is important to know what you are getting yourself in for, as there is a very diverse range of coaching available.

Training and Development
A qualification is not mandatory, but learning the basic coaching techniques is highly recommended. Coaching is not a regulated industry, which can be uncomfortable for medics who often like a piece of paper to validate their skills.
Personally, Sarah recommends training, noting that it provides a wider range of tools, a more academic approach, and helps with disciplines like knowing how to ask useful questions and how to leave space.
When choosing a course, look for one that "speaks to you" and fits how you learn best, such as an experiential course in Sarah's case.
Coaching training at the diploma level often costs between £2,000 and £6,000 or more, so it is a significant investment.
Explore funding options, potentially through a limited company as a form of CPD (Continuing Professional Development). You might also access funds through local resilience funding if you can pitch how using coaching skills will benefit your local workplace.
Find your niche and community
Find your "tribe" - either an aligned organisation or group where you can ask questions, get advice, and speak to experienced people.
Consider working out who you are really passionate about working with; this passion often dictates how you form your business.
Look into the three main accredited organisations, such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF), which offers links to various training providers.
Listen to podcasts and immerse yourself in the coaching space to see if it is something you would enjoy.
Prepare for the business and entrepreneurial side
If you plan to work independently rather than for an organisation, you must be prepared to set yourself up as a business entirely from scratch.
This involves learning new entrepreneurial skills, such as:
- Creating your own website and developing branding.
- Being very organised (e.g. using tools like Calendarly)
- Working out how much to charge and how to send an invoice.
- Getting comfortable with charging people money, which is often difficult for those used to the NHS model.
Prioritize self-care through supervision
Engaging in supervision is strongly recommended once you begin coaching.
Supervision is a safe space (unlike appraisal) to address issues concerning your skills, worries you may have about clients, or techniques you want to practice.
It is a necessary practice because coaching involves working very intimately with people, and you need to look after yourself as part of it.
Further reading
RCGP mentoring: www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring
Dr Sarah Goulding's website: www.drsarahgoulding.com
The Joyful Doctor: https://www.joyfuldoctor.com
Coaching accreditation organisations:
https://www.associationforcoaching.com
https://www.emccglobal.org
https://coachingfederation.org
Coaching podcast: https://yourcoachingjourney.com/podcast-for-doctors-about-coaching/

Dr Sarah Goulding is a GP TPD in Coventry and Warwickshire and a Portfolio GP, with 7 roles in total currently. She is a Career coach for doctors, passionate about living in a way that fits your values and helps you find joy, both in and out of work. She is a doctor wellbeing specialist, and Head of Development for The Joyful Doctor.
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32min
September 26, 202517: GP+ Palliative Care with Dr Tarana Hafiz
In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, Sophie interviews Dr Tarana Hafiz, a GP with an extended role in Palliative Care. The interview explores the practicalities of her split week between general practice and specialty work, the benefits of pursuing a special interest, and advice for other GPs on how to develop a similar career, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and hands-on experience over formal qualifications like diplomas.

Top tips

Prioritize finding mentors and building your network:
Finding mentors is considered essential. Look for someone who is willing to invest in you, take the time to train you, and be part of your career journey, informing you of opportunities.
Engage with Consultants: Tarana states that Palliative care consultants are notoriously friendly and very approachable. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them, especially during your GP training, to spend some time with them and build relationships.
Gain direct clinical experience before investing in qualifications:
Tarana emphasises that gaining experience is key. Instead of immediately investing time and money in expensive diplomas or courses, focus on practical exposure first.
Shadowing and short contracts: Tarana suggests speaking to your local team, having shadowing days, or taking on a short-term contract with the local hospice to determine if the specialty is truly for you.
Attend clinics: Ask local community or hospital teams if you can go to clinics to see if this is an area where you want to invest more time.
Start locally with enthusiasm and Quality Improvement:
The most important requirement is having enthusiasm and interest to be part of the specialty. You can begin developing your interest right within your current general practice setting.
Utilize Daffodil Standards: A great place to start is by looking at the Daffodil Standards. This is a framework/toolkit that GPs can use for a quality improvement project within their own practice, focusing on areas like early identification, bereavement, and care after death for patients with advanced serious illness and end-of-life care.
Join projects: Reach out to local teams and ask them to be part of quality improvement projects.
Engage in diverse learning opportunities: There are a variety of ways to build your knowledge in the area such as:
E-learning: Spend time doing e-learning to understand what palliative care is about. Resources include e-learning available through the RCGP website.
Workshops and courses: Attend local training and courses available from organisations like the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) or Royal College of Physicians (RCP) on topics such as symptom control, advanced communication skills, and advanced care planning. Also, some local hospices nationwide sometimes run affordable communication workshops.
Reading: Spend time reading around the subject, including insightful books from authors like Kathryn Mannix, who writes about terminal illness from a patient's perspective.
Be open to varied job titles and focus on the opportunity: When looking for paid roles, remember that opportunities may not always be advertised specifically as "GP with a special interest".
Look broadly: The role Tarana obtained was not a GP with a special interest position initially; she took it on as a Clinical Fellow, which later developed into a speciality doctor role.
Satisfy your cravings: Focus on finding an opportunity that allows you to manage more complexities and satisfy the craving for a more varied work week.
Job titles are secondary: Tarana stressed that the job title was not the primary concern; the opportunity to embark on a different venture and manage medical complexities is more important.

Further reading
RCGP Mentoring platform

Daffodil Standards

RCGP E-learning end of life and palliative care toolkit

GPwER in palliative and end of life care framework

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22min
August 29, 202516: GP+ Gambling Harms with Dr Emma Ryan
In this episode of the GP+ Careers podcast, Sophie interviews Dr Emma Ryan, a GP partner and Clinical Director, and also serves as the lead GP at the UK's first national primary care gambling harms service, established in 2019. She discusses her dual role, the holistic mental health assessments offered by her service for individuals experiencing gambling harm, and the service's evolution from self-referrals to increasing GP referrals. The episode also covers Dr Ryan's journey into this specialised field, the importance of raising awareness among healthcare professionals, and advice for GPs interested in diversifying their careers into similar areas of special interest.

Top tips
Educate yourself thoroughly: Begin by reading the latest NICE guidelines on gambling harms (2025), which recommend GPs ask about gambling harms in certain consultations, especially mental health consultations. You can also attend a free RCGP Gambling Harms webinar, which provides an overview of the NICE guideline Gambling-related harms and its relevance to CQC, practical interventions to use during consultations such as the Very Brief Advice (VBA), signposting to local support, and insights from lived experience. Attendance at a webinar will enable full accreditation under the RCGP Gambling Harms Scheme, unlocking access to valuable resources, patient-facing posters, and recognition for your practice. Also make use of the RCGP Gambling Harms Hub, which offers additional learning resources such as e-Learning modules and podcasts.

Connect with established services and networks: Reach out to the Primary Care Gambling Service, as they are keen to expand their network of interested GPs and have links across all regions. Also, explore the National Gambling Support Network, commissioned by Gamble Aware, to find information about services available in different areas. It's also beneficial to visit existing voluntary (third) sector treatment and support services to understand their long-standing work.

Leverage your existing GP skills and embrace opportunities: Your core GP skills, such as being interested in patients and their stories, are highly valuable, and you shouldn't let imposter syndrome hold you back. Your role primarily involves identifying patients and conducting initial holistic mental health assessments, not necessarily providing the specific therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Be open to saying "yes" to new experiences, as an initial interest can lead to significant career development and opportunities.

Understand the evolving landscape and funding: Be aware that increased funding is now being directed towards the NHS for gambling harm treatment and support, making this a timely opportunity for GPs to get involved. Recognising gambling harm as a "hidden addiction" that patients often suffer from for many years before seeking help highlights the crucial need for easy referral pathways and GP awareness.

Develop strong organisational and leadership skills: If you balance multiple roles, you must be highly organised and excellent at time management. Clearly separate your "gambling harms days" from "GP days" to ensure focus in each role and prioritize your main tasks over checking emails first to prevent getting sidetracked. Leadership experience can be very valuable in setting up or developing services.

Further reading

RCGP Gambling Harms Hub: https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=734
Primary Care Gambling Service: https://www.primarycaregamblingservice.co.uk/
NICE guidelines (2025): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng248

Emma qualified from King’s College London in 1999 and began her career in General Practice in 2005. She is a GP Partner and PCN Clinical Director.

She has been part of the team that has established the Primary Care Gambling Service. A national service that provides free, confidential, NHS treatment for those experiencing gambling harms.

She is a GP trainer, and educational supervisor and has worked with the Royal College of General Practitioners to develop a specific Gambling Learning Hub on the college’s website. This is an educational resource for the whole primary care team. In parallel to this includes an accreditation scheme developed for GP practices to enlist to. This is for practices to highlight to their patients that they are knowledgeable in gambling harms.

She is the co-author of a Primary Care Gambling Competency Framework endorsed by the RCGP and was a committee member of the NICE Guideline Gambling: identification, diagnosis and management committee that was published in January 2025.

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35min
July 18, 202515: GP+ Minor Ops with Dr Pim Dhahan
This month, we hear from Dr Pim Dhahan, a GP in Birmingham with a special interest in minor surgery. He shares his journey into minor operations, emphasising the importance of accredited courses and hands on experience gained through observation and supervised practice. He also outlines a number of benefits of the role such as providing a practical and engaging alternative to GP work and reducing hospital wait times.

Top Tips
Observe and get involved in your local area - If your practice already offers minor surgery, Pim suggests that you go and attend a session to see what is involved. If your practice does not perform minor operations, find out who does within your local Primary Care Network (PCN) and see if you can observe them. Observing others will help you determine if you truly have an interest and will enjoy this type of work.
Complete an accredited course - To carry out minor procedures in practice, you must first complete an accredited course. Look for courses run by the RCGP or through the Association of Surgeons in Primary Care. Pim, for instance, used his study budget to do the RCGP minor surgery course. These courses may include a small assessment, potentially involving practical elements like removing a paintball pellet from pig skin or assessing your suturing skills.
Gain hands-on experience with supervision - After completing an accredited course, do not immediately start performing procedures on your own. Pim advises you sit in with or assist someone who already performs minor surgery so they can observe you and ensure you are comfortable. Start by performing small procedures with a supervisor to build your confidence, then gradually move to doing them independently. It is important to build up your portfolio of accreditation and experience.
Explore funding opportunities - If you are a GP trainee and interested in minor ops, consider using your study budget to attend RCGP-accredited courses. However, if you are an established salaried doctor or partner, present a case to your practice. Highlight that minor surgery is beneficial for patients and can bring in funding that will surpass the cost of the course itself.
Commit to regular practice and continuous auditing - Minor surgery is a skill that needs to be performed regularly to maintain proficiency. Continuously audit your work, checking for complications like infections, and assessing the accuracy of your diagnoses. Pim noted that he gets about 70% of his differentials correct, which is acceptable as long as no cancers are accidentally removed.
Further reading

RCGP Minor Surgery courses: www.rcgp.org.uk/learning-resources/courses-and-events/minor-surgery

Association of Surgeons of Primary Care (ASPC): www.aspc-uk.net/

Dr Pim Dhahan is a Birmingham based GP Partner, Trainer and TPD with a special interest in Minor Surgery and interest that started as a GP Trainee in Dermatology. His main focus of work is as a grass-roots GP based in North Birmingham.

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18min
June 16, 202514: GP+ Academic with Dr Tom Purchase
In this episode, Sophie speaks with Dr Tom Purchase, a First5 GP and a Health and Care Research Wales NIHR Doctoral Fellow at Cardiff University. Tom describes his career journey into his doctoral fellowship, where to look and how to secure some funding opportunities, and the benefits of the role.

Top tips
Be Curious and ask questions - Tom’s journey began by simply asking a GP colleague what she was doing in her academic GP role. Don’t underestimate the power of curiosity and conversation, as most people are happy to share their experiences and may connect you with others or current projects.

Seek early opportunities even without prior research experience - You don’t need formal research qualifications to start. Tom didn’t have any before his postgraduate certificate. He built experience by joining projects, showing interest, and asking how he could get involved. Take initiative and look for small roles on existing studies.

Apply for small-scale research funding early on - Start small and go from there. Tom received a grant from the RCGP Scientific Foundation Board which is perfect for early-career GPs wanting to trial an idea. These short-term grants help you develop a track record and build your portfolio for larger funding later (e.g. NIHR , Health and Care Research Wales etc).
Be Aware of the Challenges - The role is not without some challenges such as:
Job security: Early academic roles are often fixed term
Financial hit (initially): Academic salaries may be lower than full-time clinical GP work.
Juggling roles: You need flexibility and resilience to balance deadlines with clinical responsibilities and personal life.
Appreciate the benefits – variety, impact and autonomy - Academic GP work brings a number of benefits such as:
Variety: Every week can be different, for example, teaching, research, and conferences.
Autonomy: You can shape your projects and personal development based on your interests.
Wider impact: Your research can change policy or clinical practice nationally or globally.
Tom’s experiences even led him to the WHO in Geneva—a unique opportunity to contribute to global health initiatives.
Master organisation and time management -Academic work can involve different demands to clinical work, including project planning, literature reviews, participant recruitment, writing, and meeting deadlines.. Being organised and managing your own time becomes a crucial skill.

Further reading:

How RCGP support your research (including information on the Scientific Foundation Board): rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/research-at-rcgp/how-rcgp-support-your-research

National Institute for Health and Care Research: nihr.ac.uk

The Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC): sapc.ac.uk

Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT): gppact.org

Tom's fellowship project IncorporAting parental health aDVOcaCy when mAnaging unwell Children in primarY care (ADVOCACY): a multi-methods systems approach to co-develop a complex intervention | Health Care Research Wales

Dr Tom Purchase is a General Practitioner and a Health and Care Research Wales NIHR Doctoral Fellow at Cardiff University.

Tom works with the Patient Safety team at the Division of Population Medicine where his research has focussed on exploring patient safety data to generate recommendations to improve healthcare safety for vulnerable groups.

Tom has an interest in applying systems-thinking through the principles of Human Factors and Ergonomics to patient safety research to better understand system complexity within healthcare.

Tom’s current fellowship aims to understand how and where parental advocacy takes place within primary care. The project will explore how parents speaking up for their child can be better supported and incorporated into the management of unwell children. This will inform the co-development of system changes to help parents and healthcare staff work together to reduce healthcare-associated harms.

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28min
May 30, 202513: GP+Humanitarian Health with Dr Hareen De Silva
In this episode, Sophie is joined by Dr Hareen De Silva who has a special interest in Humanitarian and Global Health. Hareen describes how he got into the field, how you can find out if it is the right role for you physically, emotionally and morally and the benefits and downsides of the role.

Top tips:

1.Gain Relevant Clinical Experience & Skills
Broaden Your Clinical Scope: Try and gain experience in areas often neglected in high-income settings but critical in humanitarian contexts. Just because you may deploy as a GP you may have to step into other situations. Hareen has gained skills over his career. Some of these can be obtained free or paid. Consider using your GP training study budget.
Emergency Medicine: ACLS, PALS certifications - paid for by CADUS
Trauma Care: Even basic trauma stabilisation
Have a look at cheap/free courses organised by a UK chairty called CitizenAid that have a free app to download.
Mental Health: Basic psychological first aid (PFA) and recognition/referral of common mental health conditions.
There are websites such as Coursera that offer free certification in PFA
Procedural Skills: Minor surgery, suturing, wound care, basic fracture management, IV insertion.
Resource-Limited Settings: Consider volunteering locally within the UK using your skills. Crisis at Christmas is where he started volunteering and then locally in homeless healthcare clinic in Doncaster. The UK Government website has a database of opportunities.
2. Understand the Humanitarian Aid Sector
Research Organisations: There are so many organisations that you could work with. Each has their own individual identity. CADUS is different to other organisations Hareen has worked with. When you interview for a position, make sure your personal values line up with those of the organisation.
Humanitarian Principles: Stress the importance of understanding and committing to the core humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
Contextual Awareness: Stay informed about global crises, geopolitical situations, and the specific health challenges in different regions. ReliefWeb has a jobs board and collates information from all around the world.
Networking: Connect with doctors already working in the field. LinkedIn, professional associations, and humanitarian aid conferences are good avenues. Hareen is happy to take on mentees via RCGP Mentoring.
Realistic Expectations: Prepare for challenging conditions, long hours, emotional toll, and potential ethical dilemmas. This work is not for those with a saviour complex.
3. Essential Training & Qualifications
Specific Humanitarian Training:
Pre-Deployment Courses: There are plenty of free online resources to help you understand the basics. DisasterReady is a free online resource which Hareen uses every year to increase his knowledge.
Tropical Medicine/Public Health Diplomas: These are highly relevant and often required or preferred by some organisations. But think about the financial impact on yourself before paying for courses. Will it help you get a volunteer position or a paid job.
Language Skills: Proficiency in languages other than English (especially French, Spanish, Arabic) can be a significant asset and sometimes a requirement for specific deployments. Even just having a few phrases will help to generate rapport with beneficiaries of the project.
Security Training: Consider something like a HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) Course. CADUS offers a free course. The United Nations also has a free course called BSAFE
4. Practical Steps to Get Started
Initial Deployments: Your first deployment might not be your "dream" assignment. Starting with shorter deployments or less complex contexts can be a good way to gain experience. Be warned that the smaller organisations may ask you to cover your travel and accomodation costs. Please do not be exploited for voluntourism type projects.
Application Process: Be prepared for a rigorous application process, including interviews, assessments, and background checks.
Financial Planning: Humanitarian work, especially early on, may not be highly paid. it is advisable to have some financial stability or savings.
Health & Wellness: Stress the importance of maintaining their own physical and mental health during and between deployments.
Long lasting effects: Hareen has deployed to multiple conflict zones and now has to apply for visas to travel to countries as a tourist. He also holds two passports to avoid questions at the border - one for work and one for tourism. Consider where you want to travel in the future as some countries do not allow travel if you have been to another country.
5. It may not be for everyone
You may realise it is not for you, and that is fine. Within the UK we have so many health inequalities and this is how Dr De Silva's humanitarian career started. Consider joining the RCGP Health Equity SIG working group and contribute locally.
Hareen is a Fellow of the RCGP and in his GP career he was the national wellbeing lead for First5 GPs and then became the youngest faculty Chair (SYNT) in the RCGP history. He moved into expedition medicine, travelling to Dominica, Costa Rica, Gough Island with the Royal Society for Protection of Birds and Midway Atoll with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Hareen has deployed on humanitarian assistance missions as a clinician, medical coordinator and Head of Mission to Greece, Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and Gaza with CADUS e.V. He has an interest in health inequalities and is a trustee for the UK medical education charity Fairhealth. He has received a British Empire Medal in 2020 for his Services to General Practice during COVID-19 and The UK’s Humanitarian Medal in 2025 for his work in Gaza with UK-MED.

Further reading

RCGP Health Equity Special Interest Group
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/about/communities-groups/health-inequalities

RCGP Mentoring
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

CADUS
https://www.cadus.org/en/

UK-Med
https://www.uk-med.org/

Fairhealth
https://www.fairhealth.org.uk/

DisasterReady
https://www.disasterready.org/

ReliefWeb
https://reliefweb.int/

United Nations BSAFE course
https://training.dss.un.org/thematicarea/category?id=6

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34min
May 23, 202512: GP+ Lifestyle Medicine with Dr Callum Leese
This month, Sophie interviews Dr Callum Leese, a First5 GP based in Aberfeldy, Scotland with an extended role in Lifestyle Medicine. Callum shares his journey into the field and signposts to a number of helpful resources if you are interested in finding out more in this area.

If you think Lifestyle Medicine could be the right fit for you, here are some top tips to help you find out more:
Connect with other Lifestyle Medicine Professionals - The British Society of Lifestyle Medcine (BSLM) is the primary professional body for lifestyle medicine. Callum suggests the BSLM is a great place to start to build those connections through their in-person events, online webinars and networking at the BSLM annual conference.
Research if there are any local lifestyle medicine groups and if not, why not initiate one with like-minded colleagues. Callum set up the 'Healthiest Town Aberfeldy' initiative with colleagues to inspire to inspire change and address some of the social determinants of health to inspire healthier lifestyles.

Start small and strategic - Figure out what aspect(s) of lifestyle medicine interests you and begin with part time or low commitment roles alongside clinical practice. For example, Callum led on some group patient consultations in his practice for conditions such as diabetes and prostate cancer. This helps him to remain energized and enthusiastic about his role trying out different styles of delivering patient care.
Research funding opportunities - Callum suggests look at your local deanery first for potential funding opportunities in lifestyle medicine. If you are a GP registrar, consider the study budget to cover some lifestyle medicine courses such as the BLSM Core Accreditation in Lifestyle Medicine or Red Whale. Callum had previously secured funding from the Claire Wand Fund for some courses in the past. He suggested also checking out the NHS Trust charities as his 'The Movement Prescription' podcast was part funded to support these ideas.

Learn more about Lifestyle Medicine initiatives - spend time to do some community mapping in your local area. Callum suggests becoming familiar with existing initiatives and help to shape and support initiatives that already exist. If you identify a gap, think about what you can do but try not to reinvent the wheel.

Dr Callum Leese is medically qualified at the University of Edinburgh, a GP in Aberfeldy, whilst working part-time at the University of Dundee undertaking research with the division of population health and genomics. He is co-founder of the community-based charity 'Healthiest Town' in Aberfeldy, Scotland where they try to enact and inspire local change and he is involved with the charity RunTalkRun. Callum is a champion for physical activity and lifestyle at the Royal College of GPs. When not working, Callum will be found running, cycling, skiing or climbing somewhere!

Further reading

Introduction and overview of GPwER in lifestyle medicine

RCGP Physical Activity and Lifestyle hub

Upcoming RCGP Lifestyle Medicine webinars

Recorded RCGP Lifestyle Medicine webinars

BSLM - Transforming Healthcare Through Lifestyle Medicine

Callum’s podcast: themovementprescription.co.uk

Callum's article after his talk at RCGP last year: GPs Urged to Embed Lifestyle Medicine into Primary Care

Parkrun practices initiative

Moving Medicine website

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30min
April 17, 202511: GP+ Training Programme Director with Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah
In this month's episode we hear from Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah, a First5 GP whose work week is a variety of clinical work as a salaried GP, TPD and one day of Undergraduate teaching at the local University. Irene shares her experience in medical education to date, skills and qualities needed to be a TPD and advice for those hoping to follow a similar career path.

If you're aspiring to become a TPD, there are several key steps and tips that can help you prepare for this leadership and educational role:
Build a strong network - Networking is powerful as it gives you access to opportunities you may not be aware of otherwise e.g. job vacancies. Engaging with local and national training committees will help you to better understand the challenges and developments in medical education and training. Attending courses, conferences and workshops related to medical education will help you expand your networks and opportunities.
Enhance your leadership skills - TPDs have a significant administrative and leadership role, so understanding how to manage teams, projects, and resources is essential. You might want to pursue leadership or management courses to strengthen your skills. Irene advises that you consider what you do in your role now and the transferable skills. Could you within your clinical role maybe lead on a tutorial or give a teaching session where you can receive feedback? This demonstrates you are collating evidence of your commitment to education.
Be Passionate About Medical Education - TPDs are often chosen for their passion for medical education. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for shaping the future of the profession through continuous learning, participation in teaching activities, and contributing to educational discussions. Irene states she has always been passionate about medical education. In her opinion, education is sharing of knowledge, and she's always wanted to give back and help others along their educational journey and help them to learn and develop.
Carve your career path early - Irene advises that Post Graduate doctors take a step back from the idea that training is three years and focus solely on exams and CCT. She urges you to consider what your ideal career looks like and is there anything you can do during training that can help you work towards that.
Before Irene started GP Training, she researched various job adverts options to supplement the training. Between ST1 and ST2 she undertook a clinical teaching role. This was a huge springboard for her while training to understand the field of medical education.
Dr Irene Afreh-Mensah is a portfolio GP, who has a passion for medical education and women's health. Her working week is comprised of a salaried role, undergraduate teaching, and postgraduate teaching as a training programme director. She loves spending her downtime with friends and family, going hiking and trying new cuisines.

Further reading

General Practice Specialty Training guidance
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/qualifying-as-a-gp/cct-guidance/training-guidance

NHS jobs
https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate

Local Medical Committees
https://www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/local-medical-committees

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16min
March 14, 202510: GP+ Migrant Health with Dr Sarah Clark
This month we hear from Dr Sarah Clark who works one day a week as a clinical assessor for Medical Justice. Medical Justice are a charity who work to support the health and legal rights for people who are held in immigration detention. Sarah outlines how she got into the role and what it involves and where you can find out more information.

Top tips
Provide Holistic patient care - When working with those held in immigration detention, it is important to consider the whole person in front of you, addressing both the physical and psychosocial aspects of your patient’s health. Migrants may face multiple stressors, including housing insecurity, lack of social support, or financial difficulties, which can affect their mental health too.
Manage the Emotional Impact - Working with migrant populations, especially those facing trauma can be emotionally taxing. Take time for self-care and seek professional support when needed. Sarah recommends taking some down time after the assessments. Medical Justice also offer groups with a psychotherapist that you are welcome to attend. They also offer six funded sessions of psychotherapy per year to support your mental wellbeing as a GP.
Explore uncharted territory - If you are interested in getting involved, Sarah recommends attending one of the Medical Justice basics training days which are advertised on their website, usually held twice a year. Sarah encourages you to sign up to their mailing list to find out first about upcoming training dates. The training provides an overview of the work involved and an opportunity to decide if it is for you. There's no commitment as you can try a few assessments to see if it's something you want to pursue a career in.
Do your research - Research the main charities websites who do this type of work such as Medical Justice, the Helen Bamber Foundation and read through statements from both patients and doctors who work for these charities. Some of the organisations host webinars where you can stay up to date on their website and social media channels for upcoming events to attend to get more information.
Dr Sarah Clark is a GP in Bristol and has a portfolio role working with Medical Justice as a Clinical Assessor.

Further reading

Medical Justice website
https://medicaljustice.org.uk/

Helen Bamber Foundation website
https://www.helenbamber.org/

RCGP GPwER in Population Health and Health Inequalities Framework
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-extended-roles/population-health-inequalities-introduction

RCGP Asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/representing-you/policy-areas/asylum-seekers

RCGP Health Inequities Hub and Health Equity Special Interest Group
https://elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/view.php?id=459

RCGP Mentoring
https://www.rcgp.org.uk/your-career/gp-mentoring

Migrant Health guide
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migrant-health-guide

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13min

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