NAME: JOE BRITTON
ROLE: AVIATION AND SPACE MEDICINE REGISTRAR, NGAM FOUNDER/CHAIR
FAVOURITE AIRCRAFT: Typhoon FGR4
TWITTER HANDLE: @POSITIVELY_SPUN
What is your role in aerospace medicine?
I am an Aviation and Space Medicine Registrar, working for the RAF. My job varies a lot day to day from performing or analysing research to writing policy and helping to design new aircraft.
How Did You First Get Interested in This Field?
My grandpa was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm and the US Navy so I grew up on stories about flying. Whilst studying medicine I joined the University Air Squadron and learned to fly. I heard about an intercalated BSc in Aerospace Physiology (now defunct, unfortunately!) which seemed right up my street combining both of these interests. After my first few lectures I was hooked and know I had to do this as a job!
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?
Persistence. I spoke to current Aviation Medicine consultants regularly, attended as many conferences as possible and got involved in projects. I was really lucky to have some amazing mentors and people who helped me along the way – which is one of the reasons I set up NGAM to pay it forward!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE TO TEN YEARS?
Hopefully as an Aviation and Space Medicine consultant doing more of the same!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
Unfortunately with the end of the Aerospace Physiology BSc its harder to get involved early in your training. Hopefully NGAM will help fill some of these gaps but the key is to keep your eye out for opportunities. Be flexible – there are many ways to be involved in aerospace medicine and they do not all need you to be an ASM consultant. If you are interested in ASM, chat to one of us early. It’s a big commitment and isn’t like most other specialities so you need to know what you’re getting yourself into!
What IS ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS IN AEROSPACE MEDICINE SO FAR?
Besides the first day I was able to call myself an ASM Reg or anytime I go near a centrifuge? Aviation Medicine has a crazy and fascinating past and I’m a bit of a history of medicine nerd- so finding a load of ‘lost’ historical documents and photos hidden in some boxes at work including some of the original work on +Gz by Bill Stewart has to be a highlight for me.