A week as a portfolio GP with Professor Christian Mallen

Professor Christian Mallen discusses his academic training, accolades and research collaborations since completing vocational training in general practice in 2003. For more career journeys in general practice, visit our Research Engagement Hub.

Updated August 2024

My career in primary care

I trained in clinical medicine in Nottingham and North Staffordshire, completing vocational training in general practice in 2003. I worked clinically as a GP for NHS North Staffordshire.

My academic training was supported by Arthritis Research UK Doctoral Training, Career Progression, and Clinician Scientist Fellowships. This allowed me to develop expertise in the early diagnosis and management of common musculoskeletal disorders in primary care.

I am a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, and a Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics. My awards include the Yvonne Carter and John Fry Awards for primary care research.

My research interests focus on improving the management of common rheumatological complaints in primary care. In particular, an interest in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of musculoskeletal disorders in a general practice setting, both in the UK and in low and middle-income countries.

A typical week as a portfolio GP

It would be lovely to have a typical week, but what I enjoy most in my job is that every day and week is very different. 

Wednesday afternoon remains my clinical time which is ringfenced and protected. I'm lucky to work in a very supportive practice who are used to having part-timers coming in and out. They make sure that I'm very well looked after when I'm there. Working part-time in practice can be very challenging when you do so little clinical work.

The rest of the week is very much spread between research and education. I'm organising clinical research, be it trials or observational studies, working with educators to ensure that our educational programmes are relevant and of high quality, and increasingly working with policymakers to make sure that both research and education are at the top of their agenda.

So, each week is very different, very exciting and always keeps me on my feet.  

I have active research collaborations with:

• University of Birmingham - Dr Karim Raza (early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis)
• University of Warwick - Lilford (NIHR Global Slum Health Unit)
• University of Essex - Professor Dasgupta (polymyalgia rheumatica). 

I also work closely with Nottingham University academic rheumatology group.