24 November 2020


As part of our focus on promoting rheumatology as a career, we've been speaking to various members about what their career journey has been like so far to help encourage students into rheumatology. Please share these interviews to help us with this initiative. Next up in the series, we spoke to Dr Yeliz Prior, Senior Researcher and Clinical Occupational Therapist.


Why did you choose to become a rheumatology researcher?

I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of seven and multiple RMDs later in life. So once I had chosen to become an occupational therapist, I knew which field I wanted to specialise in. I had first-hand experience of how these conditions can affect someone's quality of life and the difference rehabilitation services can make, especially if these are tailored to individuals’ needs.


Most RMDs are long-time conditions, which means individuals need to learn to self-manage through changing the way they do things, understand their symptoms to be able to identify red flags, and also manage symptoms such as pain and fatigue to continue with their daily lives and work to the best of their ability. As an occupational therapist, it is my role to ensure people with RMDs have access to tailored patient education and support to enable self-management of their long-term needs.


What was your career journey like?

I trained as an occupational therapist at Salford, and then I was able to obtain a PhD studentship focusing on the epidemiology of joint pain in older adults. Following this, I secured a research assistant position to work with Prof Alison Hammond, a leading rheumatology rehabilitation researcher and occupational therapist.


Following the completion of my PhD I was offered a full-time, permanent research fellow position at the University of Salford. As I was keen to practice clinically, I have also secured a part-time clinical post in the NHS, working one day-a-week at a rheumatology department in Mid Cheshire NHS Trust, in addition to my full-time research position at the university.


I was able to progress to senior research fellow, and an advanced clinical occupational therapist post within the NHS following these, which meant I could run my own rheumatology rehab clinic and lead research projects I am passionate about. During this time, I have also served on BSR and EULAR committees to help further health professionals’ role within rheumatology rehabilitation.


Why do you love what you do?

I love my job because it is immensely multi-faceted and flexible. I value working within large inter-disciplinary teams that include patient and public research partners. Most people have a misconception that research can be isolating, but as the projects grow, you get to work with teams that span across multiple sites nationally and internationally. Therefore, I get to travel a lot, which is the icing on the cake.


Also, rheumatology covers a vast area of clinical expertise and research. Although it is seen as a condition with physical consequences, most people with RMDs also report experiencing mental health difficulties as a result of living with a debilitating, long-term condition. This requires a holistic approach to treatment in both clinical and research practice.


What are the challenges?

There are many, as in any area of work that is multi-faceted. For me personally, one of the biggest challenges was to gain enough confidence to be able to stand up in front of field experts to present my research at scientific conferences. Although I don’t even have to think about that now. It becomes a second nature after a while.


Another challenge was travelling; I love travelling but arranging childcare when you have young children with no family close by to help out was hard. Yet, you find a way to get around such hurdles. Also, going through a clinical academic route, where you need to fit in research with clinical practice, is not an easy journey. Nevertheless, I would not have it any other way.


What’s your advice for someone thinking about an academic career in rheumatology?

I would encourage anyone to talk to someone with their background doing the very job they would like to do in academia and rather than focusing on the potential difficulties, concentrate on the benefits of doing the job that they love in the long term.


Rheumatology is a close-knit community and it's very supportive of those wanting to specialise in this field. So, if you are worried about the challenges ahead, chances are that there is somebody who has already gone through these, and they will be able to mentor you to work around these. Take the first step, and don’t be afraid to approach field experts.


Check out our Careers in rheumatology section for more info on how to get into the specialty.


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