What is the Research Academic Society?
The Research Academic Society (RAS) is a joint venture with the University of Lancashire, aimed at providing networking opportunities for students from both institutions, as well as speakers from across the clinical academic pathway.
The RAS is an open forum for medical students, Specialist Foundation Programme (SFP) trainees, Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs), Integrated Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme stakeholders and clinical and academic staff to engage in. Collaborating in this way allows us to share ideas and resources and build a critical mass of students and trainees who can contribute to their own research/academic network and access expert speakers from EHU, University of Lancashire and external organisations. This includes clinicians at various points on their academic pathway enabling RAS to play a pivotal role in preparing medical students and trainees for the next steps. The RAS also collaborates with and supports engagement of other health professional students and research students and fellows in other health disciplines to foster interprofessional perspectives in research and academic careers.
RAS Launch Event 28th January 2025
On 28th January, a Launch Event for the RAS took place at Wrightington Hotel. There were over 70 people in attendance, including medical students, SFP & ACF trainees, academic staff, and clinical/external partners. Joanne Reeve, Professor of Primary Care Research at Hull York Medical School, delivered an inspiring keynote on ‘doing things differently’ when it comes to clinical academic careers. There were excellent presentations from medical students who had undertaken the NIHR funded summer internship programme in 2024; one EHU students who is part way through an NIHR funded intercalation degree; Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs), and a Specialist Foundation Programme (SFP) Trainee from the University of Lancashire.
This is the beginning of a series of events that the RAS will host, and we encourage medical students across both institutions who are interested in learning more about research and clinical academic careers, to reach out to us and join the society.
