Ant's Journey - Head of Clinical Development

Ant Kitchener is our head of clinical development. He has been with the Trust for 20 years.

I have had many different roles at the Trust since I joined in 2003, all of which have played a part in leading me to my current role as head of clinical development.

I first joined the Trust because I wanted to become a paramedic. My first role was as a student paramedic, which then led me to becoming a qualified paramedic for two years. From there, I progressed in frontline roles to a community paramedic, clinical team leader and then emergency care practitioner. I eventually moved into the education space as a senior university lecturer in Paramedicine, as well as developing as an advanced clinical practitioner and one of the first paramedic prescribers in the UK. At university I taught advanced practice, medical sciences, pharmacology, and a few other subject areas.

It is an exciting time for both the paramedic profession as a whole, and the Trust, and my role as head of clinical development will help support our colleagues to develop in their clinical careers with EEAST.

Day to day, I lead a team of educationalists who oversee the operational setting, as well as specialist, advanced and consultant level practice education in EEAST. I spend lots of time working with university partners, NHS England and Health Education England. I hold an Associate Professor appointment with the University of East Anglia, and a Visiting Senior Clinical Fellow appointment with the University of Hertfordshire. I have also published in two different paramedic textbooks, as well as authored lots of CPD materials used across the profession.

The sense of direction, duty, and service you get from working for the Trust makes me proud to be a part of the team and to demonstrate impact through the development of new clinical staff here at EEAST.