Health Services and Primary Care

• MSc in Clinical Primary and Community Care (distinction), University of Birmingham, 2015
• Member Royal College of General Practitioners, 2015
• World Obesity Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education (SCOPE) certified 2015
• MBBS, St George’s, University of London, 2006
• PhD in solid state chemistry, University of Birmingham, 1998
• Member of Royal Society of Chemistry and Chartered Chemist 1997
• MA (Oxon) in chemistry, University of Oxford, 1995

• Distinction in MSc (Clinical Primary and Community Care) 2015
• AiT Excellence Award (RCGP Midland Faculty) 2014
• Distinction in Medical Sciences (MBBS) 2004    
• Merit in Clinical Sciences (MBBS)  2005
• Exhibition prize (University College, Oxford) 1993 - 1995

Helen started at the University of Oxford studying chemistry, gaining a 2:1 in 1995. She continued working in chemistry, completing a PhD in solid state chemistry in 1998 at the University of Birmingham and then going to become a postdoctoral research fellow (University of Birmingham and then Imperial College, London). During this time she published 15 papers (5 first author).

In 2002 she decided to change careers and retrain as a doctor and completed a graduate entry medical degree at St George’s, University of London in 2006.  After foundation training she chose to train as a GP and returned to research when she completed her GP training in Birmingham as an Academic Clinical Fellow (ACF) in 2013. During her ACF she was awarded a RCGP Midlands Faculty AiT excellence award and completed a MSc in Clinical and Primary Community Care with distinction.

She was appointed as an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer in primary care at the University of Birmingham on completing her GP training in 2015. While in Birmingham Helen was a postgraduate research lead for her institution and module lead for the dissertation module for the MSc in Clinical Primary and Community Care.

She moved to UEA in 2019 as a clinical senior lecturer in primary care. She works one day a week as a salaried GP and spends the rest of the week conducting research into obesity and weight management within the Health Services and Primary Care research group in Norwich Medical School. She teaches medical students and GPs in training, and supervises postgraduate students.

Helen has a research interest in obesity, weight management and primary care. Her research has primarily been focussed on novel pragmatic interventions for weight management in primary care (Weigh2Go and PIMMS-WL trials) as well as the long term care of patients who have had bariatric surgery. In addition to conducting clinical trials, Helen has completed several systematic reviews. She is currently also involved in several qualitative and primary care database (THIN/CPRD) studies as well as an NIHR PGfAR focused on physical activity. She is currently leading a study funded by UEAHSCP exploring people's experiences of seeking help for serious non-COVID health problems during the pandemic (HELP in COVID).

She has been involved in the development of national clinical guidance in post-bariatric surgery care. She led the development of a set of RCGP endorsed guidelines for primary care health professionals on the management of patients following bariatric surgery and went on to be a GP member for an NHS England expert subgroup developing guidelines for the long term follow up of this group of patients. She is currently a member of a multidisciplinary team updating guidance for the peri-operative care of patients with diabetes.

She has experience of postgraduate supervision at Masters and PhD level as well as MBBS teaching and personal tutor roles.

• Consultant clinical associate professor, University of East Anglia 2020 - present.
• Consultant clinical senior lecturer, University of East Anglia 2019- 2020 (former title).
• Salaried GP, Beccles Medical Centre 2020 - present.
• Obesity physician, Fakenham Weight Management Services 2021 - present.
• NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham and GP 2012-2019
• Locum Consultant in Tier 3 Weight Management Service, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust 2019-2020
• Academic Clinical Fellow, Institute of Applied Health, University of Birmingham and GP trainee 2012-2015
• GP trainee, Dudley VTS 2008-2012
• Foundation Years Doctor, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Good Hope Hospital, Birmingham 2006-2008
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow (Solid Oxide Fuel Cells), Department of Materials, Imperial College 2001 - 2002
• Post Doctoral Research Fellow (Solid State Chemistry), School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham 1998 - 2001