A Lincolnshire paramedic has successfully secured funding to take part in ground-breaking research into managing pain in poorly children.
Greg Whitley, 29, a research paramedic based at Bracebridge Heath in Lincolnshire, has been selected to receive funding for a PhD studentship to identify why pain is inadequately managed in injured children within ambulance services in the UK.
When he has identified any areas of weakness in emergency pain management for children, Greg will then explore ways of improving it.
The studentship is very prestigious and highly competitive with only four funded places across the East Midlands.
Greg explained that he was thrilled to accept the offer and will begin his PhD at Lincoln University in 2018. He will continue to work part-time as a paramedic to maintain his clinical skills.
He said: “I feel privileged and honoured to be selected for the PhD studentship.
“I am very eager and excited to start and I’d like to encourage anyone else who wants to do a PhD to look into funding.”
The funding for Greg’s PhD will come from Health Education England, East Midlands and National Institute for Health Research and Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care, East Midlands.
After applying for the funding, Greg had to give a 10 minute presentation on his proposed thesis, followed by 50 minutes of questioning by a panel of healthcare experts, to secure the grant.
Greg received a formal offer letter for the PhD Studentship on Thursday, 15 June. The letter stated: “The panel was very impressed with the enthusiasm and energy shown in relation to your proposed PhD study and your desire to undertake postgraduate doctoral study with the aim of developing a clinical academic career.”
We wish Greg luck with his studies #PrideinEMAS