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Biography

Dr Jonathan Gibb is a resident doctor in psychiatry who is undertaking integrated academic training – combining psychiatry with research. Jonathan is an honorary registrar in general adult psychiatry in the Severn Deanery and a Wellcome Trust doctoral training fellow at King’s College London. His research focuses on improving the care of people affected by depression and multiple long-term health conditions. He is involved in shaping workforce policy related to academic medicine as the Co-Chair of the British Medical Association’s Medical Academic Staff Committee. 

Why did you choose an academic path?

Around ten years ago, I had the opportunity to intercalate in medical school and undertake a systematic review on the use of anti-depressants in people with cancer. This was my first exposure to undertaking research in medical school. Learning about the pathway underpinning how a study can then inform a guideline and then ultimately improve the care of patients was fascinating. From this experience, I tried to get involved in many different research projects related to psychiatry (with varying success!) and, in my penultimate year of medical school, I was awarded a Pathfinder Fellowship from the College (a previous iteration of the current Psych Star scheme) which was a three-year development award for students interested in academic psychiatry.

This Pathfinder Fellowship was a step-change in my career trajectory as it opened many doors for me – from excellent mentorship to attendance at the International Congress. Learning more about research, and different methodologies, then lead me to apply for integrated academic training in Psychiatry.  Ten years later, little did I know at the time of medical school, I am now doing a PhD focused on improving the identification of depression in people living with cancer. 

How has academic work enriched your clinical practice or career satisfaction?

Academic psychiatry encompasses a wide area – from innovation, education, research, and policy making. I have found the opportunity to undertake academic work throughout my clinical training to be a real privilege and highlight of my career to date. Having protected time to undertake research has allowed me to develop ideas arising from my own clinical practice, particularly in liaison psychiatry, then build into these research projects with the highly valued support of my supervisors and colleagues.

Another highlight is the many opportunities for collaboration that can take you outside of your own speciality. Recently, I have been working with surgical colleagues on projects related to understanding the relationship between depression and outcomes following surgical interventions. This has been incredibly interesting and rewarding. 

What would you say to a resident doctor considering academic training?

Go for it! Academic training has some fantastic benefits including protected time to undertake education or research training alongside mentorship. However, it is competitive and there are significant challenges associated with this career pathway especially if you stick with it. It does require a great deal of determination and resilience at times. Despite these challenges, academic training can open the door to an unparalleled number of opportunities and a highly varied career at the forefront of psychiatry. Even with the challenges, I’d really recommend it!