School of Health & Wellbeing

General Practice and Primary Care's Katie Gallacher tells us about combining her role as a busy GP with research aimed at understanding and reducing the treatment burden of people who have had a stroke, taking up a new hobby, and the wise words she tries to live by...

Tell us a bit about what you do in IHW

I am an academic GP so split my time between clinical and academic work. I currently run a programme of research that aims to understand and measure treatment burden in people who have had a stroke. Treatment burden means the workload of managing your health and any impact this has on wellbeing. I am also fortunate to work with colleagues across the institute, UK and further afield on interesting projects that tend to have a focus on understanding the experience of people with long-term conditions and enabling them to manage their health in the community.

What do you enjoy about your role?

It is a privilege to get to have two work families – one in my practice and one in the university. I am lucky to have two jobs that I enjoy, and my week is always varied! I appreciate that I have considerable patient contact but also get to do research.

What are the challenges?

It can be challenging to balance both clinical and academic work, and sometimes there are not enough hours in the day. Making lists helps!

What is the best thing about working in IHW?

A lovely bunch of colleagues, and I feel fortunate to have been able to continue to do research in an area that I am passionate about. The support of colleagues has helped me to persist with my programme of work despite this not always being the easiest route.

Tell us something we might not know about you, or would surprise us

I recently taught myself to play the ukulele. The first song I learned was "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles.

When or where are you happiest?

Cycling, fresh air, sunshine, yoga, and music all make me happy, but the thing that makes me happiest is spending time with my family. I have two boys who are growing up too quickly and often make me laugh until my belly hurts.

Any secret – or not so secret! – ambitions?

My biggest ambition is to stay mindful and thankful for the day-to-day privileges that it is easy to overlook. I’d also love to improve my Spanish and visit Spain more often to enjoy the sunshine and good wine, and of course to practice my language skills!

Do you have a favourite quote or saying, or mantra by which you try to live your life?

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." This is a quote from the Dalai Lama and very apt for academics that often meet obstacles in their career. Or in other words, as my gran used to say, "What’s for you won’t go by you". She was a woman of many wise words. 

If you would like to appear in "Five minutes with...", do please get in touch (jane.goodfellow@glasgow.ac.uk)! We aim to alternate professional services and research/teaching staff profiles, and feature colleagues from across a wide range of roles and grades within our institute. 

---

First published: 21 September 2020