Clinical, Research and Therapeutic Experience:

 

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Psychedelic Research Experience

 

• July 2020 – April 2023:    CMO and Senior Research Development Officer, Awakn Life Sciences, Bristol, UK

• May 2018 – Nov 2021:  Principal Investigator – Bristol-Imperial-MDMA-Alcoholism (BIMA) Study Phase 2                                               Clinical Trial.

• Sept 2019 – Nov 2021:   Lead Therapist & Medical Lead Compass Psilocybin for Depression Phase 2 Clinical                                         Trial.

• June 2015 – April 2024:   Senior Research Fellow at Psychedelic Research Centre, Imperial College London.

 

• Publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles, commentary, editorials and original scientific research in high-impact medical journals, the popular press and other media.

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• Formal training as an MDMA therapist with MAPS in 2015

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• Formal training as a psilocybin therapist with Compass Pathways in 2019

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• Formal training as a ketamine therapist with Awakn Life Sciences in 2021

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• Twenty-year collaborative working relationship with senior staff at major international psychedelic research organisations, including Imperial College London, MAPS, Compass-Pathways, Johns Hopkins, Beckley Foundation, and worldwide  Psychedelic Societies

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• Frequent national and international conference attendance and keynote presentations.

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• Regular teaching at universities, medical schools and clinical centres on the topic of psychedelics.

 

Medical Cannabis Experience

 

• In 2020, I was the first psychiatrist in the UK to prescribe medical cannabis as part of the Drug Science ‘Project Twenty21’ project.

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• From 2020-2021 I worked at My Access (cannabis) Clinics, running a clinic twice a week providing assessment, prescribing and case management of patients for psychiatric indications including anxiety disorders, depression, PTSD, insomnia and chronic pain.

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• From January 2022 – March 2024, I provided educational input, training and clinical development advice to Medisonal Ltd. Also includes supervision of other psychiatrists and review of clinical cases as part of the Medisonal MDT.

 

Complex Diagnosis and Management

 

• Diagnosis, multi-modal management planning and treatment of complex patients across the whole range of psychiatric morbidity.

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• Management of complicated presentations of young people with mixed biological, psychological and social problems.

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• Team working, systemic and systematic thinking, familiarity with local services, experience using of complex pharmacology and knowledge of evidence-based psychological inputs. 


 

Addiction and Drug Dependency Services

 

• Assessment, care planning and medical management of patients with addictions to drugs including alcohol.

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• Opiate substitution prescribing and monitoring – especially with methadone, buprenorphine and Suboxone.

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• Planning and medically supporting community-based detoxification for opiate and alcohol dependence.

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• Working alongside multi-disciplinary community-based and inpatient services planning medical and psycho-social interventions for managing addictions.

 

Neuropsychiatry and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

 

• Experience in in-patient and outpatient settings diagnosing and treating young people with primary and co-morbid neurodevelopmental disorders.

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• Mixed cases of ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Tic Disorders and children and young people on the Autism Spectrum. Such patients frequently require careful management of psychopharmacology alongside psychotherapy and behavioural inputs as well as detailed working with community services to provide on-going support after discharge.

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• Trained to deliver the tools ADOS and ADI-R as part of an Autism Assessment.

 

Post-trauma Experience

 

• Work with the Adult Complex Treatment (Veterans) Service in Bristol, working with Combat-PTSD.

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• I have worked extensively with colleagues from other mental health disciplines and agencies to provide assessment, consultation, liaison and treatment for children and teenagers with a history of emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect, presenting with traits of PTSD and Emerging Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, including self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

 

Psychopharmacology Research Experience

 

• I have a special interest in complex psychopharmacology – particularly the need for monitoring potential adverse risks associated with prescribed medication.

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• Principle Investigator on CTIMP study 2015-2021 – MDMA for AUD Safety and Efficacy Trail (BIMA)

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• Senior member of Awakn Life Sciences Scientific Advisory Board from 2020 to 2023.


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• Past member of the British Association of Psychopharmacology.

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• Former Research Associate in the psychopharmacology unit in Bristol University 2007 - 2021.

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• Former Senior Research Fellow at Neuropsychopharmacology Dept., Imperial College London, since 2015-2024.

 

Psychotherapy Experience

 

• Approved MDMA Psychotherapist (Trained with Mithoefer’s/MAPS in 2015)

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• Approved Psilocybin Psychotherapy (Trained with Compass-Pathways in 2019)

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• Approved Ketamine Psychotherapist (Trained with Raquel Bennett, Lowan Stewart and Celia Morgan in 2020)

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• Family Therapy training sessions at the Tavistock Centre and in Oxford, UK

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• Introductory courses in Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Internal Family Systems therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy in Oxford.

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• Private practice with patients and their families undergoing family and individual therapy. 


 

Clinical Governance Experience

 

• Working from an evidenced base in terms of my personal practice and as part of nationally agreed standard for doctors is achieved through keeping up to date with NICE guidelines and applying the trust’s clinical governance policies implementing treatments driven by emerging evidence.

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• Undertaking annual appraisal of my performance with an assessor external to my peer group and approval by the medical director.

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• Repeated formal assessments of my colleagues and patients opinion of my work through the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s ‘360 ̊ 
Appraisal’, which consistently yield positive results.

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• Supervision and support from colleagues within various consultant peer groups.

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• Experience of electronic note-keeping, Care Planning and the use of Outcome Measurements.

 

Continued Professional Development

 

• I attend annual GMC appraisal exercises and have been revalidated by the GMC until 2025. I am currently on a sabbatical from clinical practice until April 2025.

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• I maintain my Royal College annual PDP programme status.

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• My PDP is driven and assessed by peer group supervision.

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• Local mandatory training is up to date through local trust courses and study days.

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• External courses include biannual attendance at the Royal College of Psychiatrists general or child and adolescent faculty 
residential meetings and the British Association of Psychopharmacology annual conference.

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• I use my annual study leave budget to attend frequent courses and conferences to meet identified training needs.

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• I subscribe to the British Journal of Psychiatry, the Journal of Psychopharmacology, and PysPress UK.