Phillip Yeoh is a Consultant Nurse in Endocrinology working full time and currently studying for his PhD at Kings College London. His clinical interests are in adrenal diseases, endocrine cancer, pituitary diseases, endocrine cancer. In this interview he tells us about his career, the people who have shaped his experience in endocrinology and what we can expect from his SfE BES lecture.

Could you tell us about your career?

I have worked as Consultant Nurse in Endocrinology at The London Clinic for nearly 10 years now. I started an endocrine investigation unit about 22 years ago. The service is completely nurse-led. I also manage the diabetes service with several diabetes specialist nurses. I am currently doing my PhD at Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care at King’s College London, where I am at my final stage doing my data analysis. I am in a group called Federation of International Nurses in Endocrinology (F.I.N.E), of which I am the President and we are collaborating with International Society for Endocrinology for a nursing program at ICE2024 in Dubai.

“I like the complexity of it. It is such a niche area and I find looking after people with endocrine conditions so interesting”

What was it about endocrine nursing that attracted you?

I like the complexity of it. It is such a niche area and I find looking after people with endocrine conditions so interesting.

What is your career highlight, to date?

I was awarded the Betsy McClung research prize at Endocrine Nurse Society last year in Atlanta. It was such an honour. This year award for Nikki Kieffer Medal was such a surprise. I knew Nikki back in 2000 when I joined endocrinology and we sat on the Nurse Committee together. This award felt like an icing on top of the cake.

Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

I was lucky enough to have so many giants in endocrinology opening up the doors for me in the last 22 years. People like Prof Mike Besser, Prof John Monson, Prof Ashley Grossman, Prof Pierre Bouloux and Prof Marta Korbonits. I am so pleased to be working with nursing colleagues in my career, like Dr Sofia Llahana, Dr Chris Yedinak, Dr Cecilia Follin, Dr Andrew Dwyer and the endocrine nurses in UK.

“Be brave, be bold and be adventurous”

What do you consider to be the most exciting developments in endocrinology?

The Society for Endocrinology’s Competency Framework for Adult Endocrine Nursing, followed by Advanced Practice in Endocrinology Nursing Textbook. They both made such impact on the development of endocrine nursing.

What are the biggest challenges your field faces?

The lack of investment and research in endocrine nursing. Hence, I went to King’s College Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care to get ideas from them. There is a wealth of nursing knowledge out there that we can learn from!

Could you tell us about your lecture for SfE BES 2023:

My lecture this year is based on my experience of looking after people with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) for the last 23 years and my research work at King’s for the last 6 years.

Do you have any insight to guide aspiring endocrine nurses?

Be brave, be bold and be adventurous.

You can attend Phillip Yeoh’s Nikki Kieffer Medal Lecture “Lived Experience of ACC” on Tuesday 15 November at 10:55 AM.

Take a look at the full scientific programme for SfE BES 2023.