My name is Ines and I’m a third year MPT student. I’m currently working on writing my UCAS application to become a Physician Associate. This course has been my goal for quite a long time so I’ve been using free time to get work experience to boost my application. Of course, the pandemic didn’t help anyone and that includes me, but a positive outlook on my future made me research what I could do given the circumstances.

After some research I came across the St. John’s Ambulance volunteering programmes. I learned that they were looking for members of the public with science knowledge to undergo some training and become Covid-19 vaccinators and so I applied. During my interview I mentioned my MPT course knowledge about immunity within the human body, vaccination, herd immunity and muscle repairing. The previous knowledge from my degree aided the application process as I got an email the next day confirming my place within the organisation.

I did the training process where we learnt how to correctly vaccinate, how to handle the vaccination material and how to act post vaccination should someone feel unwell. As during the lab sessions in MPT I’d already learned how to correctly dispose of medical equipment and understood the mechanism of action behind an anaphylactic shock, I’d say the training was interesting and a smooth journey.

Once I started vaccinating, I was a little bit scared as this would be my first time dealing with members of the public. However, after a couple of attempts I was settled in, almost like it was exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. It felt right.

I’ve since worked with elderly people that have mobility difficulties, foreign people that don’t speak English and even people that have lost a relative. It’s been a challenging journey full of rewards and it is good to get home at the end of a shift and know you’ve helped someone today. I’m currently volunteering in between my course lectures and seminars, and it’s been an amazing and fascinating journey.

The MPT course has given me the knowledge I have that allowed me to volunteer within this field and certainly boost my applications to become a Physician Associate. Next stop, London?

The post From MPT to Covid Vaccinator and Beyond appeared first on MPT Life.

Summary of my ePoster Session

Hi everyone, I am Kiara Abayasekara. It seems like yesterday I wrote my first blog post three years ago! Now I am graduating with a First-Class Honours in Medical Physiology and Therapeutics – time certainly flies! For my last blog post, as an MPT student, I would like to share my experience presenting my Final Year Research Project – ‘A Systematic Review on the Utility of Urinary Mitochondrial DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker of Acute Kidney Injury in Adult Surgical Critical Care Patients’, at the Annual Physiological Society’s Conference, Physiology2021, Rob Clarke Award Presentations.

A bit of History – What is the Rob Clarke Award?

The Rob Clarke Award is presented in honour of Rob Clarke (1956-2004) – a Scientist, Physiology teacher, and member of the Physiological Society, who made important contributions to Physiology and the development of the Physiological Society. The awards provide a fantastic opportunity for undergraduates to experience presenting their research at the annual Physiological Society conference. Here is the website for more information on the awards and application process: The Rob Clarke Awards – The Physiological Society (physoc.org).

My Experience…

A screenshot of my ePoster. The ePoster contains interactive tiles (the squares) including tiles for the Abstract, a ‘Traditional’ Poster and PowerPoint Presentation, which I used to present my research.

Upon having my research abstract accepted, I was invited by the Physiological Society to present my research at the Physiology2021 Rob Clarke Awards. This year, due to COVID-19, the conference was held online.

Prior to presenting at the conference, I had the opportunity to learn new skills, for example creating an ePoster, and using a virtual platform, from which I presented my research and attended other conference sessions.

The five-day conference began on the 12^th of July 2021. About 600 researchers, across 45 different countries, attended the conference from undergraduates to professors. The experience of meeting physiologists from a variety of research disciplines was enriching. Sharing ideas, experiences and obtaining advice was truly humbling and inspiring.

It was my first time presenting an ePoster of my research at a conference. As with any new experience, it was initially daunting, but I looked forward to discussing my research and sharing ideas. I had the opportunity to present twice to a panel of judges.

The presentations pleasantly took the form of a relaxed conversation about my research and any ‘pre-presentation nerves’ were supplanted by the excitement to share my findings and ideas for future research.

View my ePoster

My Rob Clarke 2021 Abstract Award Certificate

I was also incredibly grateful to receive the Rob Clarke Abstract Award.

Overall, I am really thankful to have had the opportunity to present at the Rob Clarke Awards and would definitely recommend the experience to all MPTs!

A special thank you to my Project Supervisor, Dr Nikol Sullo, and the ‘MGEM3003 Research Project’ Module Convenor, Dr Mathew Piasecki, for their support.

Finally,

Good luck everyone, best wishes for the future!

Kiara Abayasekara

The post Presenting my Final Year Project at Physiology2021 – The Rob Clarke Awards! appeared first on MPT Life.

When deciding what sort of dissertation you’re going to do, you need to recognise what you’re going to enjoy. If you like going into the labs, using equipment, and analysing raw data then a lab report might be for you. If you prefer to look for trends in current literature and draw conclusions about the direction of future research, then a literature/ systematic review may be up your street.

On a personal note, I think a lab report is the most fun as you get to go into labs and get your own data but be careful as Covid restrictions limit when I can go in the lab and what I can do so it’s more tedious than it would otherwise be. So, check what restrictions will be in place for you when you decide what type you’re going to do.

As someone who is currently going through the process, I can tell you that in concept, the dissertation is largely similar to any other systematic review, lab report, or literature review coursework you’ve done in the past just with several big differences which define the process as frustrating and stress-inducing.

The main differences are the scope and focus of the work. MPT teaches you long-established principles of medicine and occasionally marks you on your ability to write essays and abstracts on it; however, the dissertation is going to involve you working on the very forefront of a field where you are going to have to comprehend what is and what is yet to be understood. Then you’ll have to write 8,000 words on what you’ve found, a stark contrast in scope to what you’ve had to do before. This all sounds bad but ultimately, the more you read, the more you’ll want to write so if you struggling to fill 8,000 words, read more then see if you’re able to develop your writing.

There’s a lot more specialist software and lab equipment you’ll have to get used to using. For me, I find myself in labs using expensive microscopes and imaging programs. It was all a bit daunting initially, but you get used to it eventually and the more you play with the data you gather, the more you find you can write about how it fits into current trends or perhaps how it bucks them and seems to strike out on its own.

You hear stories of people being endlessly stressed about their dissertation, these concerns are understandable but ultimately everyone is in the same boat so if you’re worrying about your project, talk to people on the course as it’s likely they’re also struggling. Don’t hesitate to drop the module lead or your supervisor and email if you’re worried as they’ll help you out. Good luck to those who are soon to pick a supervisor and topic, choose well.

Tune in for the MPT Society’s blog! We’ll be covering a range of topics so watch this space for more entries and let us know if there is anything you’d like covered!

Instagram: @uon_mptsoc

Email: mptsoc@uonsu.com

The post Dissertation Difficulties appeared first on MPT Life.

How are you? Really?

This question can often be asked out of niceties and seem superficial as you are left wondering do they really want the honest answer, or are they just asking because it is expected? But it really is an important question, even to just ask yourself and reflect on your own feelings. Are you feeling stressed, demotivated, low? Frequent internal checks are more important than often realised as without it, before you know it weeks/months have passed, and you have been in this constant low state without even processing it.

Staying motivated in a pandemic

Motivation has been in huge deficit this lockdown, with everyone experiencing higher stress levels, facing greater uncertainty, and dealing with fleeting levels of motivation. The pandemic has really uprooted most of our routines leading to this sense of things being unstable. With things changing constantly and quickly, it can be hard to maintain hope and see the purpose in your actions so relying on just willpower alone to get things done can be very hard at times. Some things I’ve found helpful in maintaining motivation is breaking big tasks into smaller achievable ones. It can be very overwhelming thinking about all you have to do, for instance if one of the tasks is to do a reading, perhaps breaking it down into smaller chapters will make it more digestible. In addition, creating a routine that works for you can help to give your day a sense of purpose and something to actually look forward to. Whether you’re an early or late riser, as long as you get what you need to do done, and you’ve made sure to eat decent meals and get some sort of exercise in that’s absolutely fine; don’t stress and compare yourself to others, whatever works for you.

Deadlines and demands

April 1st. April 7th. April 14th. It always feels like there’s thing after thing and it can be very overwhelming especially when it feels like you don’t even have the time to pause. Deadlines alone are stressful but coupled with the lack of structure that COVID has brought to our schedules, it can become even harder to see the point of your work. There are many ways this can be combatted, one thing I’ve found that helps is to impose smaller deadlines on yourself. For instance if you have a piece of coursework, then maybe setting a deadline for the reading, then a deadline for the research an another for your first draft and so on. This can make the workload feel less daunting as you’re able to see the smaller things you have to do within the bigger task.

Social connection whilst social distancing

Keeping in contact with friends and maintaining healthy relationships during this time has been hard. First things first, it is not just you, if you’re feeling like this then chances are your friends will be to. We really are all in this together and now more than ever it is hard to keep up relationships when you cannot see people, and there are only so many Zoom calls you can have before it becomes tedious. It is important to remember that this past year has been hard for everyone, and it’s important no to be too hard on yourself if you haven’t spoken to your friends in a while, take things at your own pace, I’m sure they will understand. Remember daily walks are allowed if texting is not your thing and with the rule of 6 coming back in place it will be easier to meet up with those you may not have spoken to for some time.

Ultimately there are so many resources out there to assist with your wellbeing during this time, you just have to maximise them. And most importantly, take each day as it comes, it has been a hard year so don’t forget to indulge in yourself every once in a while.

• Nightline – an anonymous, non-advisory, confidential, non-directive and non-judgemental listening and information service open during term time between 7pm and 8am and 24 hours during exam periods.
• Wellness in Mind – Wellness in Mind provides information and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing. The service will help connect people to the services which may best support them.
• Black and Minority Ethnic Students’ Network – The UoNSU BME Network represents all students studying at the University of Nottingham who self-identify as African, Caribbean, Asian, Arab or Jewish heritage, and anyone who experiences racism, antisemitism, or islamophobia. Can offer support if you feel discriminated or harassed.
• Students’ Union LGBTQ Network – Free and confidential service for anyone requiring support, seeking information or just to talk.
• Cripps Health Centre – Based on University Park, this practice specialises in looking after students and staff of the University of Nottingham.
• Personal Tutor – Their roles differ across individual schools but essentially, they can act as a gateway to wider student support. Personal tutors can offer academic advice/support and guide you to any further resources you may need.

The post Mental health in a global pandemic appeared first on MPT Life.

I’ve been working since I was 15 for various reasons (whether it was for financial reasons, work experience or gaining new skills) so I’ve had to learn through trial and error the best ways to keep on top of everything. However, regardless of why you’re working, it’s important to be able to balance your work life with your study life, not only so that you can succeed in both areas, but for your own wellbeing!

Here is how I manage my work and university life:

Plan your time

Firstly, I cannot stress how important it is to know what you are supposed to be doing and when. Make sure you have a timetable of all lectures/tutorials/labs etc. (even the asynchronous ones, I find that if I don’t write these sessions down, I tend to forget their existence). Being able to see when I have to study allows me to sign up for shifts knowing that they won’t overlap with any lessons. It’s important to factor in commuting time to your workplace or any in-person uni work as well so that you’re not late.

Other things to consider timetabling in are assignment deadlines and exams since you will want to dedicate more time to studying during these periods. If you can, let your employer know as early as possible when these deadlines/exams are so that they can prepare cover for you in advance and it is less likely to be a problem for you in the future; you won’t want the added stress of trying to find someone to cover your shift the night before an exam.

Ask for help if you are struggling

Whilst it might seem daunting to discuss this with your manager, it is vital that you tell them as soon as it becomes clear that you can’t manage to work this much with your studies. Ideally, your manager will be aware that you are a student from your application or interview, so should respect the fact that you won’t be able to work as often as other employees who aren’t students. It is essential that you nip this problem in the bud as, from experience, letting problems pile up or worsen quickly becomes overwhelming and upsetting.

You might also want to consider letting someone from your university know so that they can help you with your university workload and offer more advice about how to cope. This could be from your personal tutor or anyone who you would feel comfortable talking to about your situation.

Plan time for yourself

It’s easy to forget that your life isn’t only dictated by when you should be doing uni work versus when you should be working, but it isn’t! It is crucial to not only make sure that you have enough time to take care of yourself but also to make sure that you spend time doing what you want to do. There is an endless list of what this could include but most importantly, do what you enjoy and take the time to do this and relax. Don’t be afraid to take a step back and take time for yourself.

Be honest

Don’t tell your employer that you can do more hours than you actually can or want to do, it’s important to be upfront about what you can bring to the job and what you want to get out of it. Equally, don’t let anyone pressure you into doing more shifts than you want to do. Be clear, direct and don’t be afraid to say no! It’s a lot more difficult to go back on your word once you have already committed to doing x number of shifts and this can be an added stress in the long run.

Additionally, be honest with yourself. If you feel like work is becoming overwhelming or unmanageable take some time to reflect on what you would like to do. As stated previously, tell someone and seek help from others or take a break. Use your time off to relax, catch up on uni work and reset. It’s unfeasible to work 24/7, everyone needs time off!

If I had to condense this advice into one major point, it would be to discuss any issues or topics early! The further in advance you tell your manager/personal tutor etc. about anything, the more likely it is to be resolved effectively and the more time you will have to do so (it is also less stressful and more manageable knowing that you have more time to find a good solution). Whilst it can be difficult to balance your work and study life, you will develop key skills like time management, organisation skills, communication skills and more which will help you in your day-to-day life, as well as with job applications and interviews (see the ‘any experience is better than no experience’ section on our previous blog ‘5 top tips on how to ace your job application’ on how to incorporate these skills into future plans).

These are some lessons that have helped me over the past five years however, everyone is different and you will inevitably find what works best for you with experience (I’m still learning too!), but I hope that these points will get you started. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at mzyeo5@nottingham.ac.uk or DM the MPT Society Instagram @uon_mptsoc, where we’ll be happy to answer any questions.

By Eleanor Osman

The post How to balance work and study appeared first on MPT Life.

But first a little about me and why anyone should take my advice on job applications. I successfully applied for my first job in 2018, during my first year of university, in a Nottingham restaurant called Bistro Live. I am still currently employed there (however not working due to COVID) and have had a total number of 13 separate jobs in the past 3 years since that first interview. My friends and family would describe me as frustratingly lucky when it comes to my success with job applications, but I will endeavour to explain why this is not the case with my five top tips.

So here they are…

1. Keep your CV brief

My first tip for job applications is keeping your CV brief and to the point, it should be no more than two pages long! If you have a lot of work experience choose maybe the top three or four jobs that most relate to the role you are applying for and bullet point the key responsibilities of those roles.

If you do not have much experience use your education, any volunteering experience and hobbies to highlight transferable skills such as organisation, time keeping and working well under pressure to show employers that you could do the role just as well as someone with a bit more experience.

2. Write a cover letter

Although your CV is important, employers tend to only look at them to make sure you have the basic qualifications and that you would be suitable for the role. So, what makes you stand out to employers? The answer to this is of course your cover letter. Therefore, NEVER EVER apply for a job without a cover letter! I can guarantee that most employers will not view your application and you will not get the job.

But what should you include in your cover letter? This depends entirely on the job specification for the role you are applying for, it is important to know exactly what skills the employer is looking for and from there you need to show examples of where you have gained these skills. Luckily many of these skills are transferable, for example in a person specification for a clinical physiologist job in the NHS, one of the skills they are looking for is the ability to work alone and in a team. In my cover letter, therefore, I would use an example of in my bar work when I needed to work with other people to provide a service or maybe mention that I often work alone to complete work for strict deadlines while at university. I would aim to highlight multiple skills at once in my scenarios and I may not provide examples for every skill on the specification, but I know that proving I have experience in what they are looking for is what is going to make me stand out.

3. Any experience is better than no experience

The most important aspect of applying for a job, particularly a graduate one, is being able to prove you have the skills they are looking for in the job/person specification. This comes from experience and so the most crucial piece of advice I could give to anyone is try to get some work experience, any work experience. My first job at Bistro Live was perfect for this, I only worked Friday and Saturday nights, but from this I had transferable skills, such as time keeping, organisation and the ability to work in a fast paced and pressurised environment, all skills that employers are looking for, no matter what the role.

It is not always the easiest task getting your first job so it may be beneficial to volunteer or even try and get some experience with friends and family. One of the most important jobs so far in my life was when I offered to work as a receptionist at the school my mum works at, it provided me with so much experience that could easily be transferred to other roles and so made applying for other jobs 10x easier.

4. Don’t over prepare interview answers

Interviews can be nerve wracking and it can be very tempting to prepare everything right down to the last detail. Now I’m not saying don’t prepare, especially if it is for a professional role, because it is important to know what you will be discussing when you go into the interview. However, it is vital that you come across as genuine during the process and this cannot be done if you have memorised specific answers to questions (unless you are an absolutely brilliant actor). Instead have a few examples of specific skills lined up in your head, take a breath, relax and smile, you will find that this will go much further for you than sounding like a robot.

5. Sign up for networks and free agencies

LinkedIn is a great source for finding new job opportunities, but it is something I have only found fairly recently. Since signing up, I have had multiple agencies contact me with jobs they think I may be interested in and many of those have been a perfect fit for me. I find that agencies are an absolute life saver when looking for work because they do most of the hard work for you. They find the roles, send off your CV, give you interview advice and really sell you to the employer, I once got a job through an agency that I didn’t even have to interview for! It is true however, that not all jobs can be accessed through agencies and so if you are looking for something specific you are going to have to put a bit more work in, but if you’re looking for maybe a temporary role to get your foot in the door then they are perfect.

That concludes my top 5 tips on how to ace your job application, these are all based off of my personal experience and so I cannot guarantee that utilising them will ensure you get every job you apply for. However, they are definitely good to help you get started and build a portfolio around you and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at mzyrs13@nottingham.ac.uk or send a DM to the MPT Society Instagram  @uon_mptsoc where I will be more than willing to answer any of your questions.

By Rebecca Stevens

The post 5 Top Tips on how to ace your job application appeared first on MPT Life.

A gap year provides a chance to earn some money, take a break from the constant pressure of studying, and engage in some different experiences. By the end of the first month of the March 2020 lockdown, I realised that the work experience I needed for a GEM application may be harder to obtain than previously thought. This was when I started looking into the idea of a gap year, and the more I planned and evolved this idea, the more appealing it sounded; I was feeling worn-out by a consistent 7-year span of exams, coursework and studying from GCSEs to A-levels to my degree, and I had never properly given myself a chance to relax and take a break from it all.

The main aim of my gap year is to give myself a chance to refresh. I can spend a while working and saving money now that I won’t have to pay the price of student rent, and I will no longer have to split my time worrying about both work and study. I also plan on applying for a GEM programme during this time – taking the time to sit the GAMSAT and UCAT exams in September 2021, as well as prepare for any interviews I may be invited for, which I will be easier to handle once I won’t also be undertaking a university degree. However, what I am most excited about for my gap year is travelling!

A gap year is exactly what you make of it. There is always the cliché of travelling, but it’s a cliché for a reason – travelling is brilliant. Back in 2018 I took a 3-week excursion to Vietnam and I’ve been looking for an excuse to take another trip ever since. There is something very liberating about going somewhere so different from your daily life – you can switch off from your normal stressors and its refreshing to be immersed in a new lifestyle.

A lot of my time in Vietnam was spent volunteering within some rural communities, and that was a part of my trip that I wanted to repeat during my gap year. Through a few searches (and targeted ads on Instagram) I stumbled across a Nottingham-based company that provides volunteer-travel opportunities within Sri Lanka and Nepal, ranging from Marine Life to Mental Health placements. They’re also offering tours across Nepal and Sri Lanka – the Coast2Coast tour that I have booked onto takes you all across Sri Lanka for 8 days, seeing all the different sites, surfing along the coasts and going on an elephant safari.

A gap year can seem like a long time but it will go by faster than you think so take the opportunity to enjoy yourself and don’t worry too much! Its supposed to be a chance to relax and refresh before starting another adventure, so make good use of it!

If anyone has any questions about anything I have mentioned in this blog, feel free to email me at mzyer5@nottingham.ac.uk or DM the MPT Society Instagram @uon_mptsoc, where I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions or help you with anything gap year related!

By Emma Robinson

The post Considering a Gap Year? appeared first on MPT Life.

I won’t bore you with my answer to the classic ‘why do you want to study medicine’ question, but suffice to say my response is somewhere between “I’ve always wanted to” and “I was inspired to because of…” levels of cliché. Bottom line is, I’m on MPT trying to get into medicine and my journey really starts with second year. This is when everyone is thinking about their work experience; I had set myself up with the uni’s first aid society and thought that the accumulated hours from the odd duty and volunteering with the Alzheimer’s society would give my application to GEM that special something or at least give me enough hours so I could try to meet the high standards of work experience required. Alas, COVID struck, plans were off, and I had to rejig my plans for the now increasingly rare opportunities for work experience.

I spent months in lockdown revising for the GAMSAT, an exam beloved by graduate medical schools the world over and loathed by the students who apply to them. My revision involved reading chemistry and physics textbooks – contrary to all the exam advice I had been given, and a strategy I would ultimately regret. In that time, I started to work as a healthcare assistant at a local elderly home. It’s a form of work experience I definitely recommend; long working hours, including my first exposure to working nights; experiencing some of the roles of medical professionals, particularly nurses; and you get paid – a definitive benefit over voluntary work. It gives you the preliminary perspective to allow you to consider whether you could work as a doctor who will have to work longer hours compounded by additional stress.

As I moved on to third-year, I wrote my personal statement – I have to recommend going to student services for help with this, they were brilliantly critical – filled out the UCAS form and after a few months of waiting, was invited to interview for GEM – woo! Practicing interviews with friends and reading books gives you invaluable insight into how to improve both the technique and content of your answers. However of course, when the interview comes you’re forced to think on your feet, all those neat answers you’ve rehearsed are inconveniently forgotten and you have to make it up as you go using instinct. So, setting out in stone those core examples of when you demonstrated personal skills and qualities befitting a doctor is so important as they’re all you’ll be able to remember in the interview. Learning to think on your feet so you don’t freeze when given an unexpected question is vital, all the questions will feel unpredictable, so learning to stay calm and collected in those moments is a great skill to learn.

We’re now caught up to the present day, where I’m currently waiting for the dreaded email saying whether I got in or not which will retroactively decide if this blog post is hubristic and arrogant or amazingly insight and helpful. I’ll keep you posted

Tune in for the MPT Society’s blog! We’ll be covering a range of topics so watch this space for more entries and let us know if there is anything you’d like covered!

Instagram: @uon_mptsoc

Email: mptsoc@uonsu.com

The post MPT and applying to GEM appeared first on MPT Life.

The poster we created of our patient care plan.

Let me set the scene. Four Midwifery students, a Pharmacy student and me with our Case about a Patient with Pre-eclampsia and 1 hour to research, decide on a short- and long-term plan, and produce a poster worth presenting to the rest of the attendees!

It was a fantastic experience. I really enjoyed getting to know students from other healthcare disciplines as a multi-discplinary Team (MDT). I learnt a lot from our exchange of knowledge, skills, and research. It highlighted the importance of teamwork – listening when necessary and taking the lead when needed, for effective patient care. Negotiation, the ability to support one’s decisions, retrieving good levels of relevant literature under time pressures and public speaking – all vital skills, that this event helped me develop.

Overall, the event was a symbol of the enriching purposes of inclusivity and diversity, equipping healthcare professionals to be competent to deliver efficient patient care. I really recommend attending this event open to Part I MPTs. It may be organised differently next year (probably online), but I am confident that the experience will be just as enriching – what you learn about yourself, teamwork, and the invaluable skills you develop will equip you well in MPT and for the rest of your professional lives.

The event is run by our University of Nottingham’s Centre for Interprofessional Education and Learning (keep an eye for their email).

By Kiara Abayasekara (Third Year MPT)

The post Taking MPT to an MDT – Interprofessional Collaborative Workshop appeared first on MPT Life.

We recently caught up with Susan Manoharan, one of our Medical Physiology and Therapeutics (MPT) alumni from 2015, to get an look into what her experience was like at Nottingham and what she’s gone on to do after graduating.

Why did you choose to study MPT at Nottingham?

I chose to study at the University of Nottingham because it is one of the top universities in the UK and in the world, and it is one of the top targets for graduate employers. Also, I was mesmerised by the beautiful University Park campus. I chose to study MPT because I enjoyed studying science at school, especially biology. Also I was very interested in health and science current affairs. I thought MPT had a good variety of modules in the curriculum, which matched my interests.

What did you like about studying MPT at Nottingham?

I loved the variety in learning methods used in MPT. We didn’t just learn from lectures: we learnt in small group lab sessions, we used prosected human cadavers in the anatomy suite, we practised our clinical skills in the clinical skills suite, and we applied our lecture-based knowledge in solving real-life cases during problem-based learning (PBL) sessions. Our timetables were always so varied and engaging!

If you got involved in any extra-curricular activities, what were they and why did you get involved?

In my final year at university, I was a Peer Mentor for first-year students, in the School of Medicine at Derby. I knew that I would gain transferrable skills through this role, which proved to be very beneficial in my career. Whilst studying at the Royal Derby Hospital campus, I got involved in various activities on University Park campus. I learnt Sign Language through a course run by GPSoc. I played netball with the Tamil Society; although my netball skills were a bit rusty, the society were seeking for team players, so I thought I’d give it a go!

I joined the Asian Cultural Society, as I wanted to be connected to my culture whilst at university. I attended the Diwali Ball where we dressed up in our sarees. Most of my flatmates were Hindu, so I joined the Hindu Society with them. I participated in Central Zone Garba (dance festival) in Leicester. Also, we celebrated Holi (Hindu festival) with thousands of other students at ‘Holi on the Downs’, which was so much fun! It’s one of my fondest memories!

What advice would you give to someone considering or about to start MPT, and to current students?

To prospective students:

For those of you considering whether MPT is the right course for you – go for it! You’ll learn about body systems, diseases, physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, histology, molecular and cellular biology, and you’ll gain laboratory skills, clinical skills, research skills and employability skills. MPT allows you to pursue so many different careers paths in medicine, dentistry, global health, clinical research, laboratory research, pharmaceuticals, medical sciences (radiography, oncology, reproductive technology, vascular science), physiotherapy, regulatory bodies and more. You can do anything with MPT!

For those of you with an offer to study MPT, congratulations!

Get involved in as much as possible: in your degree, in societies, sports, in your halls, within the campus, award schemes, at careers events, within the school. E.g. become a peer mentor or course representative, join society committees, participate in the Student Union, play for sports teams, become a hall rep, volunteer on campus.

Talk to your personal tutor whenever you want about whatever you want – they can give you both academic and personal support. I met my personal tutor many times during my degree, especially during my extenuating family circumstances in Year 2. I received great support from him and he signposted me to the student wellbeing officer. And I’m still in contact with my tutor!

To current students:

Read around topics you’re interested in, by using journal articles, news articles, magazines and free online

Really think about which optional modules you want to choose. Choose modules according to your interests, because you have the chance to tailor your degree across areas that you are interested in. With the COVID-19 pandemic, I cared for patients with COVID-19 and now, I am interested in global health. If you are interested in tropical diseases and global health, you have the amazing opportunity to study the module ‘Tropical Medicine and Beyond’ in Year 3, at the University’s Malaysia campus.

Organise work experience, placements and internships as early as possible, in areas and specialities you are interested in. Email hospitals, companies and businesses enquiring about work experience; send speculative CVs and cover letters to companies; and telephone human resource departments if you are unable to find work experience information on their websites. If you’re unable to secure work experience, consider volunteering in areas related to your career choices and interests.

How has MPT helped you in your career so far?

I chose the optional modules, ‘Respiratory Diseases’ and ‘Cardiovascular Diseases’ in Year 2. These modules have played a vital role in my job in intensive care, as I understand the theories behind normal breathing mechanics, mechanical ventilation and cardiac monitoring. I apply this knowledge learnt in MPT to clinical situations I come across in intensive care. This has helped me to excel as a Medical Technologist.

If it weren’t for the support of the school staff, including my personal tutor, lecturers, student wellbeing officer, research supervisor and my fellow MPT alumni, I wouldn’t have graduated with a 2:1. More importantly, if it weren’t for my MPT degree, I wouldn’t be working as a Medical Technologist today. The University of Nottingham has been fundamental in shaping my career. It’s why I’m a Medical Technologist, working at the frontline of a global pandemic today.

Do you have a fun fact about Nottingham?

Yes! Did you know that one of the most important and revolutionary breakthroughs in modern medical science was pioneered at the University of Nottingham?

Sir Peter Mansfield, who joined the University of Nottingham as a physics lecturer in 1964, pioneered the creation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In 1978, Sir Peter volunteered as the first whole-body human to step inside the very first whole- body scanner. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2003 for his role in the development of MRI. Today, the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC) at University Park is equipped with various human imaging facilities.

About Susan Manoharan

Susan graduated with a 2:1 in BSc Medical Physiology and Therapeutics (MPT) in 2015.

Upon graduating, Susan completed placements and employments at Royal Brompton Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and Hillingdon Hospital, before securing her current position as a Medical Technologist, working within Intensive Care Units at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, in London. Currently, she is a part of the front-line critical care team, focused on tackling the global pandemic: COVID-19.

The post Susan Manoharan: MPT Alumni Profile appeared first on MPT Life.