Further bursaries available to fund Faculty membership for healthcare scientists working in or interested in clinical informatics

Following the successful bursary scheme in 2020, where a total of 47 bursaries for Faculty of Clinical Informatics membership were awarded, including two Fellows, seventeen Members and twenty eight Associates, the Faculty of Clinical Informatics (FCI) and Health Education England’s National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) are pleased to announce further bursaries are available to fund Faculty membership for healthcare scientists working in or interested in clinical informatics.

The Faculty of Clinical Informatics is the professional organisation for clinical informaticians working in health and social care in the UK. The Faculty aims to support, mobilise and act as an advocate for clinical informaticians in order to ensure safe, effective and efficient health and social care to the public. It is joining the Federation of Informatics Professionals (FedIP) to bring together and support the development of all informaticians working in health and care.

The National School of Healthcare Science implements the NHS healthcare science training programmes, including ground-breaking post graduate degrees in health, genomic and imaging bioinformatics. These pioneering programmes are producing scientists who are changing patient and clinical outcomes, contributing to multi-professional working and new ways of integrated working, and are leading in many areas of innovation and translational research within the NHS.

Given the joint goals of multi-disciplinary working, innovation and education, the aim of the bursary scheme is to encourage healthcare scientists to join the FCI and help nurture this community of healthcare scientist informaticians.

Health Education England will fund a year’s membership of the FCI to successful applicants. The bursaries are initially aimed at those who are enrolled on, or are alumni of, the National School of Healthcare Science Scientist Training Programme or Higher Specialist Scientist Training Programme, but there will be funding for other NHS Informaticians to take up membership, including Topol Fellows.

Quotes from current bursary recipients:

I joined UKFCI because I think many problems in clinical practice can be improved with digital solutions. I want a mixed clinical and informatics career and being a member of UKFCI gives me access to guidance, like-minded individuals, collaboration opportunities and resources to build my career and make real change to improve the NHS. (Caroline Kilduff)

I joined as Topol Fellows were being offered a bursary for membership. Being new to the field of Clinical Informatics, I did not have any knowledge of the utility of joining the faculty. However, it has brought me in touch with like-minded professionals, and opened up opportunities to present my work and get feedback at an Early Careers event, and also attend CPD events such as the Annual Scientific Conference. There are further benefits as well such as mentorship. If you are serious about a career in Clinical Informatics, I would highly recommend joining. (Sarju Mehta, Topol Digital Health Fellow)

To apply, please complete the Faculty of Clinical Informatics Membership or Associate application form by 30th September 2021.

Watch the FCI Recruitment webinar, broadcast on the 10th September 2021, which gives guidance on applying to the FCI and talks from some of their members.

Find out more about joining the FCI.

Find out more about the National School of Healthcare Science programmes.