Helen Twohig

Biography

Helen undertook her undergraduate medical training (MBChB hons) and intercalated degree (BMedSci) at the University of Sheffield, completing her studies in 2003. She then worked in A+E and medical training posts gaining her MRCP, prior to entering the Sheffield Vocational Training Scheme. She completed her GP training in 2010 and has worked as a salaried GP since.

She joined the Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care at the University of Sheffield in 2011 as a clinical fellow and was awarded an NIHR in-practice fellowship in 2012. She subsequently took up a Welcome Trust Doctoral Fellowship based at Keele University (developing a patient reported outcome measure for polymyalgia rheumatica) and completed her PhD in 2022.

She was awarded an NIHR Academic Clinical Lectureship in primary care in 2022 and has research interests in musculoskeletal medicine and sustainable healthcare.  

Research and scholarship

Helen’s academic work has predominantly focussed on musculoskeletal conditions. During her PhD she developed a patient reported outcome measure for polymyalgia rheumatica, the PMR-IS, which is now being used internationally in research studies. She has continued work aiming to improve care for patients with PMR through further research studies and by contributing to patient and professional education and guideline development. She is also working on studies of other inflammatory MSK conditions, fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

Helen is also interested in climate change and health and the decarbonisation of health care. She has carried out work on the environmental impact of asthma and MSK care and is a co-applicant on the NIHR funded GPNet0 study, which aims to inform actionable recommendations to help primary care move towards net zero emissions.

She is also joint lead investigator on a programme of studies (SPLaT-19) defining and exploring the impact of long-term COVID-19 on children and young people, funded by the NIHR SPCR and the WM CRN.

She has experience of evidence synthesis, qualitative and quantitative research methods and holds additional roles including membership of the NIHR HTA funding panel and British Society of Rheumatology guideline development groups, and as South Yorkshire North Trent faculty climate and sustainability representative for the RCGP.

Teaching

Helen has taught on several undergraduate modules of the MBChB degree at University of Sheffield and facilitated undergraduate medical student teaching sessions at Keele University. She also supervises medical students and GP trainees in her clinical practice.

She has supervised three intercalated undergraduate degrees and is currently co-supervising two PhD students.