Marcus Bateman shortlisted for Rising Star Award at CRN East Midlands Research Awards 2024
A UHDB Physiotherapist has been recognised after helping to make a significant contribution to research into treating and rehabilitating patients with complex and often rare conditions affecting their joints, bones and muscles - known as musculoskeletal conditions.
Over the past 12 months, Marcus Bateman, Consultant Physiotherapist based at Florence Nightingale Community Hospital and the Derby Shoulder Unit at Royal Derby Hospital, has helped develop a protocol for physiotherapists to best care for patients with these conditions, both in the NHS and internationally. This is known as a Core Outcome Set, and was crafted alongside professionals from various NHS trusts, as well as universities across 15 countries.
Over his career, he has won the Best Allied Health Professional (AHP) Presentation Prize at the British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) conference twice, and presented at the European Society of Shoulder and Elbow Rehabilitation Congress in both Dublin and Geneva.
Now, Marcus has since been successfully shortlisted for the Rising Star Award at the upcoming CRN (Clinical Research Network) East Midlands Research Awards 2024, which recognises outstanding contributions to clinical research.
Marcus has had a particular focus on treating upper limb patients as part of his work, including those with what is known as complex atraumatic shoulder instability, a condition which leads to abnormal motion of the shoulders causing the joint to dislocate regularly, as well as conditions causing severe shoulder and elbow pain.
Nominated by a fellow physiotherapist colleague at UHDB, Marcus said that the wonderful news of his shortlisting for the Rising Star Award 'came out of the blue' - explaining:
"When you're involved in the clinical research world, you're always on various mailing lists, and I remember seeing the CRN Awards call-out for nominations landing in my inbox - but unbeknownst to me, a colleague who I nominated for an award with CRN a few years ago decided to return the favour! I'm so pleased about it and if nothing else, to be recognised and invited to the ceremony is great."
In doing so, he has played a crucial part in guiding clinicians on diagnosis and treatment, aligning with the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) program. He also participates in the James Lind Alliance research priorities steering group, where he continues to establish priorities for future research into common elbow conditions - with his commitment to shaping the future reflecting his dedication to advancing the quality of healthcare practices in physiotherapy, and his ambition to make a difference in patients’ lives.
After originally coming to work at the Derby Royal Infirmary in 2003 alongside his girlfriend, his now wife who also works in physiotherapy, Marcus has stayed with UHDB ever since, specialising in shoulder and elbow conditions in 2007. This came about after a planned camping holiday was 'rained off' and they spontaneously decided to look through the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy magazine - where they saw their first roles advertised.
Explaining how he got into physiotherapy in the first place, Marcus said that "most physios would say the same - you go into it to help people, and the satisfaction you get from doing that.
"Helping people to help themselves is incredibly rewarding, particularly for those with complex conditions such as the ones I specialise in. When I began specialising in shoulder instability, I recognised that many of my colleagues and surgeons were uncertain when treatment of patients with conditions such as atraumatic instability, as they weren't sure what would be best for them longer term."
During his time at UHDB, Marcus has taken it upon himself to try and improve the care of these types of patients with challenging conditions directly and through his research, formalising a rehabilitative protocol and publishing this alongside the corresponding research - which has now been adopted across the world.
Explaining what motivates him to conduct this research, Marcus said: "I know I alone can only see so many people, and if I can help educate others to do the same, then that can only benefit wider society. You can do this through teaching of course, but also through research and publications - helping to change practice in Derby, as well as nationally and across the entire world.
"It is really rewarding to set something up in motion that has the ability to affect people beyond my immediate scope of influence - establishing protocol that has a fundamental positive impact on the quality of care we can provide. I remember not long after I published my first paper, we had some physiotherapy students come to work with us on rotation - and one of them said 'I've read your paper and talked about it at University'. It is remarkable that the research I've done has had a life of its own and helped people improve their practice."
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 6 March at Kilworth House Hotel in Leicestershire.