̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Graduate get a job make a difference

Graduate, get a job … make a difference #7

ta385 — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +0000

Gwilym Thomas (Trinity Hall), MB, Medicine (2015)

I graduated from Cambridge’s Medicine course in 2015 and I’m now working as a second year GP trainee, having already completed two years of post-qualification foundation training.

I’m currently based in A&E at the West Suffolk Hospital where my focus is on providing timely care and deciding whether someone can then return home or needs to be admitted for on-going treatment.

Junior doctors like me rotate jobs every four to six months so there is constant variety. Prior to A&E, I was working on a Care of the Elderly ward. I hope to be a GP within two to three years and during that time continue my involvement with Primary Care research.

My Motivation

I’m inspired by the positive impact I can make on the lives of patients and their families as part of a multidisciplinary team. I get particular satisfaction from taking a holistic approach, one of the tenets of GP training.

When I started at Cambridge, General Practice was near the bottom of my list of career options. I felt it might be repetitive and lacking in intellectual rigour, but actual experience completely changed my mind. In primary care I had such enthusiastic GP tutors and saw how embracing not just the biological but also psychological and social aspects of a patient’s problem could lead to better outcomes.

On the flipside, the biggest challenges I face are the long hours, difficult decisions and emotional challenges inherent in the job, alongside the wider issues in the NHS and social care.

What Cambridge did for me

̽��ֱ��Cambridge medical course is founded on core science which is later developed during clinical training, which seemed to match my learning style. In unfamiliar situations I can often problem-solve from first principles due to this sound scientific basis. It has also made me familiar with critically appraising evidence and that helps my clinical decision-making.

I discovered the world of primary care research, almost by accident, through Student Selected Components (SSC). Professor Jonathan Mant was my supervisor on my first Primary Care related SSC, which took me to the interface between stroke rehab in the hospital and community. Later, he encouraged me to submit an abstract to the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) regional conference, and presenting there made me very enthusiastic about academic Primary Care. Professor Martin Roland, Dr Charlotte Paddison and Dr Katie Saunders supervised me on my second SSC in the Primary Care Unit. They gave me a lot of support to present again at SAPC, locally and nationally, and to publish the paper with which I won a Royal College of General Practitioners research prize in 2016.

My time at Cambridge proved so many of my preconceptions about primary care wrong. I soon learnt that GPs must use their clinical and diagnostic skills to make diagnoses, or deal with uncertainty, with fewer resources than available in hospital. I found there are also opportunities to develop specialist interests. My clinical placements were in various specialties and locations which helped me learn to integrate rapidly into a team and give me an insight into my eventual career plans. I also received really effective teaching in communication skills, which I continue to develop as a GP trainee.

During my 4th and 5th years, I spent several weeks with the practice team at Nene Valley Medical Practice in Peterborough, and that longitudinal placement really inspired and helped me to become a GP. During my elective in Scotland I received a lot of support and great advice from the anaesthetic department at Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban. ̽��ֱ��short time I spent at the small, two-GP, Easdale Medical Practice, on the Isle of Seil also inspired me a great deal. Since graduating, the GPs at both Guildhall and Barrow Surgery in Bury St Edmunds, and the Grove Surgery in Thetford have been really supportive, friendly and knowledgeable. West Suffolk Hospital has been a good place to train as a junior doctor.

Applying to Cambridge

I grew up in Shepshed, a village in Leicestershire, and went to school in Loughborough. I was fortunate in having university-educated parents and in attending a school where Oxbridge applications were encouraged. But during my teenage years I had a lot of time out of school due to illness – I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I had to restart my GCSE year and, prior to returning, my head teacher advised me that either medicine or Oxbridge might be a realistic goal but, concerned for my health and welfare, they told me it might be best not to aim for both. I doubt they know how much that drove me to prove them wrong!

Crohn’s made the rest of school and the start of university a battle but I was open on my application about my illness and the potential for things to go wrong. I spoke to the ̽��ֱ��’s Disability Resource Centre team at an open day and my College also made me aware of all the support available if I needed it, which fortunately I rarely did. I did, however, receive targeted financial support via a Disabled Student's Allowance which made a huge difference to my confidence when I started at Cambridge. I have been in remission for some time now but being in some situations as both a patient and relative does, I think, help me approach things more holistically as a doctor.

It is really important with a medical degree to consider the course structure. While the traditional model at Cambridge suited me, it may not match everyone’s learning style. As for choosing a college, I didn't know where to start so decided to visit a shortlist on open day. I settled on Trinity Hall, where I felt most at home, a decision I’ve never regretted.

Cambridge graduates enter a wide range of careers but making a difference tops their career wish lists. In this series, inspiring graduates from the last three years describe Cambridge, their current work and their determination to give back.

My time at Cambridge proved so many of my preconceptions about primary care wrong.

Gwilym Thomas, MB, Medicine (2015)

Find out more

For more information about studying Medicine at Cambridge.

Find out more about General Practice as a career.

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Yes

Graduate, get a job … make a difference #6

ta385 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Kathryn Savage (Trinity College), BA Modern & Medieval Languages (2016)

I graduated last year and now work in Uganda with Pepal Foundation, a small UK-based NGO partnered with a large Ugandan NGO, Baylor College of Medicine. Our project aims to improve health service delivery and increase utilisation by strengthening the leadership skills of health workers and district health teams.

Our three year pilot runs until December 2017 in 270 facilities in two regions. ̽��ֱ��hope is to expand the project across Uganda by including it in the Ministry of Health's overall budget and training plans for newly-qualified clinical staff. We also hope that our model can be implemented in other countries.

My role is in monitoring the success of the project in its current form and coming up with improvements for when it is (hopefully) made fully functional across multiple areas of the country.

What Cambridge did for me

I probably spent more time doing extra-curricular activities than studying, from playing Blues football to being on my college May Ball committee. Cambridge definitely taught me that you really need to enjoy whatever you spend the majority of your time doing, which for most people is working.

I’d spent a lot of time in Latin America on my gap year and then my year abroad so I knew I wanted to work in a different part of the world with unfamiliar challenges. I first came to Uganda as a volunteer using money from a fund from my college, Trinity, and was then offered a year-long contract.

Unfortunately, I don’t currently use my languages at all in my job but having a very packed schedule has certainly equipped me with the skills to balance lots of competing interests. When studying a humanities subject you realise you could never exhaust the endless amount of reading that you could do, and it’s the same in terms of workload in the NGO world, where you feel like however much you do there’s always more.

My Motivation

I tried out the corporate sector during a couple of internships, thinking that I would get as much as I could from the training there to take into the NGO sector, but then I realised I couldn’t even handle that. I wanted to do something I’d be proud of from the beginning and something that I could explain to my friends without having translate lots of incomprehensible corporate jargon.

People who do amazing work in very under-resourced environments, like the many Ugandan healthcare workers that I’ve worked with, really inspire me. I think that we could learn a lot from them in the UK.

I would consider doing a Masters in Global Public Health or perhaps running projects for a larger NGO. But I think I’d like to work in the UK at some point as, whilst there’s so much to be done here, there are also a lot of social issues in the UK that I’d like to understand more and get involved with.

Applying to Cambridge

I applied to study law and went to the interview having had one practice session at school with someone who seemed to be learning from me about basic legal concepts rather than the other way around! However, my parents were very supportive and I was luckily able to go into the interview without too much pressure and thinking that fate would decide the outcome.

I initially began studying law but soon realised that I needed to be studying languages, having applied on deferral and spent time travelling in Latin America during my gap year. I just didn’t feel like I’d exhausted my love for languages during those six months and really wanted to build on my knowledge. Despite the initial false start, it was definitely the right decision and I’m very grateful that my college allowed me to change subject.

People who do amazing work in very under-resourced environments really inspire me.

Kathryn Savage (Alumna)

Cambridge and Africa

Our Spotlight on Africa showcases links between our university and the African continent and has been launched to coincide with the Africa special of our Research Horizons magazine.

Under pressure: the battle to have a baby in Africa

A complication of pregnancy that causes the mother’s blood pressure to rise – often fatally – is more common in women of African descent than any other. Read about research in Uganda by African and Cambridge researchers that’s helping to uncover why.

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Yes

Graduate, get a job … make a difference #5

ta385 — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Nina O’Hare (Newnham College) Archaeology & Anthropology (2015)

I’m a field archaeologist with Worcestershire County Council, which means that I spend most days outside working as part of a small team to conduct pre-development archaeological surveys. Our projects can range from several small trenches in a car park, looking for medieval urban occupation, to a multi-hectare excavation exploring changing landscape use from the prehistoric to present day.

I have wanted to be an archaeologist for a long time, but it was only through the outreach work I was involved in at Cambridge that I realised community archaeology is the area I most want to work in. Just after graduating, I was lucky enough to gain an archaeological outreach internship connected to the Archaeology department. This took me to Dunwich in Suffolk, where we worked with a wide range of volunteers to excavate the last remaining part of a once prosperous medieval trading port, which is now almost entirely lost to the sea. Working alongside volunteers and engaging with the community at Dunwich and elsewhere helped confirm that this is the career path I want to pursue.

What Cambridge did for me

As you would expect, my degree gave me a solid foundation in archaeological knowledge, thought and theory. But the research, time management and writing skill sets I gained along the way are in some ways more valuable in post-graduation life, and have already helped me in producing several commercial archaeological reports as part of my current job.

I’m still inspired by the academics and time I had at Cambridge to really explore and investigate a topic - Neolithic archaeology, from the enigmatic time when farming began, is a fascinating challenge to try and untangle.

̽��ֱ��teaching system at Cambridge is based on individual or small group supervisions, in which you discuss a particular topic and your work with an academic. Gaining confidence at explaining, summarising and discussing ideas through supervisions has been extremely valuable to me during job interviews.

Alongside my degree, I also gained a lot of organisation skills and experience through running a large society event and setting up an online access project that is aimed at helping prospective Cambridge applicants. Being involved in college and university-level access work has helped me work towards being involved in outreach and community work and started to equip me with the skill set to do so.

My Motivation

Working with and teaching members of the public about archaeology is really inspiring – it’s a great privilege to be able to share knowledge about, and that physical connection to, our past. In the future, I hope to work within community archaeology and would like one day to be able to combine research into Neolithic Britain with community and university outreach work.

Applying to Cambridge

In exploring different university courses, I discovered that Cambridge's Division of Archaeology runs an undergraduate open day each spring, which I attended. Being a subject-specific open day, I gained a good overview of what the course was like, what module options there were and how it was taught, which helped me to decide that Cambridge was the best place for me to study archaeology.

I found a lot of myth-busting and useful information on the ̽��ֱ�� website and the CUSU Alternative Prospectus (Apply to Cambridge) website – this helped me through Cambridge's unique and early application process.

̽��ֱ��two admissions interviews I had turned out to be a lot less scary than anticipated, as they were more of an academic discussion than a formal interview.

Starting at Cambridge was a less daunting prospect due to the friendly college system, as instead of being 1 of Cambridge's 3000 new undergraduates, I was 1 of just 110 newcomers starting at Newnham College.

Working with and teaching members of the public about archaeology is really inspiring

Nina O'Hare (Alumna)

Studying archaeology at Cambridge

Undergraduate archaeology is now taught in a free-standing Archaeology course.

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Yes

Graduate, get a job … make a difference #4

ta385 — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:00:00 +0000

Isobel Firth (Newnham College) BA Natural Sciences (2016)

I graduated last summer and I’m currently working with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a non-profit organisation based in Geneva that develops treatments for neglected diseases and patients with a public health focus.

I’m working in the paediatric HIV and Hepatitis C programmes with a very experienced and interdisciplinary team. ̽��ֱ��projects are a fantastic mixture of medicine, chemistry, law and public health rolled into one and I’m learning lots about the world of drug development.

In the HIV project we are working to provide a treatment for children with HIV which is practical to dose, easy to administer, in a taste-masked formulation, and which is available to infants as soon as they are diagnosed with HIV. This is vital because early treatment makes the difference between life and death for these children. ̽��ֱ��Hepatitis C project is focussed on developing an affordable treatment for Hepatitis C as the current treatment options are too expensive for the majority of people living with the disease which can eventually lead to liver cancer.

̽��ֱ��work I do on these projects is varied, including literature reviews, presenting and analysing scientific data on potential drug candidates and editing scientific papers for peer review. These all require skills I developed during my time at Cambridge. Working here has confirmed my interest in a career in public health, and the experience of working in this organisation will help in making that a reality.

What Cambridge did for me

On the Natural Sciences course, I had to write scientific essays for supervisions which left nowhere to hide – if you have misunderstood a topic it becomes very obvious. I had never written a scientific essay before coming to Cambridge and the first few took me days to write but I slowly improved through practice. In my final year I did a laboratory research project where, along with other practical lab skills, I learnt the ropes of academic science writing which I use all the time in my current job.

On top of my studies, I was part of the Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC) throughout my three years and was president of the club in my final year. This involved organising events such as alumni meals and our historic varsity match against Oxford, and lobbying for greater provision for sports clubs within the university. Many of the skills I now have in the workplace were developed as a result of being involved with CUSWPC and it was definitely the best thing I did while at Cambridge.

When I was applying to do a Masters in public health I met with a Cambridge careers advisor who helped me to re-engineer my CV and, as a bonus, told me about the Cambridge Global Health Scheme. I applied with little hope but was accepted onto the scheme which led me to an internship at the World Health Organisation in Geneva. It was a fantastic experience for someone with aspirations in public health and I was lucky to have the experience so early in my career. Through that, I began an internship with DNDi in Geneva – this wouldn’t have been possible without the ̽��ֱ��’s Global Health Scheme.

My motivation

I was always impressed, if not intimidated, by the calibre of research going on at Cambridge. I understood that it was, in some abstract way, impactful down the line, however my real interest was how incredible scientific innovation translates into positive change. For that reason, I wanted to use my scientific background to work in public health, where science meets the harsh reality of economics and politics.

Bridging the gap between innovation and health intervention for the most needy is what motivates me now, which is why the work of DNDi appealed to me so much. Their motto is ‘the best science for the most neglected’ which means that the organisation is the vital link between a eureka moment at the laboratory bench and helping people with diseases for which they would not otherwise get treatment.

Applying to Cambridge

I went to a local comprehensive school in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. I had great teachers who inspired me to learn science and helped me with the things I found difficult (thanks Mrs Nicholl for all the help). My school would generally have a couple of Oxbridge applicants every year but I had almost no preparation for my Cambridge interview. Following one good interview and one terrible interview at the College I applied to, I was offered a place in the Winter Pool by a different College, Newnham, where I happily completed my three year Natural Sciences degree.

Starting at Cambridge was intense, the first year Natural Sciences course is extremely full on and I don’t think any of us, whatever schools we had been to, were prepared for it. We helped each other through it and when I received my good results at the end of first year, I realised that I wasn’t as out of my depth at Cambridge as I sometimes felt.

Bridging the gap between innovation and health intervention for the most needy is what motivates me

Isobel Firth (alumna)

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Yes

Graduate, get a job … make a difference #3

ta385 — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 11:30:00 +0000

Thomas Hogg (Jesus College), BA Law (2016)

I graduated last summer and I’m now a student social worker in Hartlepool Children's Services. I’m doing my training with Frontline, the relatively new graduate scheme for social work.

Children’s Services covers a wide range of activity. My work so far has consisted of supporting children in need, and offering help to families to overcome particular issues that are detrimentally impacting upon the welfare of the child. I’ve already worked with people suffering from mental illness, learning disabilities and substance misuse.

I’m constantly inspired by the other social workers in the department, and the fact that the job gives you the chance to be creative, and be your own leader. ̽��ֱ��direct work with children demonstrates this, and often it’s the best part. My day job regularly sees me kicking a football round the park or playing with Lego. Doing activities which the children enjoy helps to build a good relationship and helps me understand how they see their world.

Social work is ultimately about helping people and ensuring the safety, happiness and wellbeing of children. But that in itself is a huge task, especially given the extent of the personal and social problems many families face. ̽��ֱ��biggest challenge is knowing how to juggle all these issues while keeping your work child focused.

What Cambridge did for me

I don’t think anything can really prepare you for the emotional side of this work. Working with people and trying to resolve their very real, and very difficult, problems is an emotional task and no training or education can really prepare you for it. That being said, what Cambridge did give me was an ability to examine issues from various perspectives, and consider them in a deeper context.

Problems in life, and the problems the law often tries to resolve, are often deeper than they first appear. So the law and practice often need to go further, and you need to look to other factors that impact on the life of the child. Cambridge prepared me to look deeper for answers and examine cases in finer detail.

My motivation

I guess my motivation is broadly the same as the university's - I want to make a positive change in the world. At the moment I feel the best way for me to do that is to be on the ground, in a frontline social work role. ̽��ֱ��teaching at Cambridge definitely strengthened this desire.

Studying the family law paper allowed me to explore the cases, the policy, and the political and ethical contexts in which social work operates. Having an academic insight into all these issues is useful, but I’ve always been driven to act on what I learn. Training to be a social worker is allowing me to fully appreciate how law and practice come together. I hope that with the solid understanding of law I gained from Cambridge, I can help vulnerable children and their families. Indeed, one day I hope I can influence the law and policy, combining both my degree knowledge and my social work experience.

I think the biggest thing I’ve gained from my work is a real awareness of quite an obvious fact – we were all children once, and our upbringing has a direct impact on our future prospects in health, education, and future social mobility. This will influence my career direction because I want to continue helping children and vulnerable people through difficult periods of their life. I may well stay in social work for many years or I might move into family law practice. Having the grounding in social work could be quite helpful, as I hope I would be able to empathise with both the Local Authority and the family, and from that hopefully I can achieve the best outcome for all involved.

Applying to Cambridge

I went to Durham Johnston Comprehensive School in Durham. No one in my family had been to university, so I had very little knowledge about higher education in general, let alone Cambridge. I obviously knew it was a top university, but in terms of the application process, I had little idea what was going on.

̽��ֱ��open day gave me the opportunity to see Cambridge for myself and come to my own decisions about whether this was the right place for me, and whether I wanted to pursue an application. When I began to apply, I often found myself feeling in two minds about it. On the one hand, I felt like I was just applying on a bit of whim, with a “might as well give it a go” attitude. Other times I felt I might be making a bad decision, and found myself constantly justifying myself to other people. Some teachers were incredibly supportive, but the myths of Cambridge were definitely present.

But the positive attitude, and sticking to my gut instinct of ‘just give it a go and see what happens’ paid off. As soon as I started at Cambridge I realised that it was nothing like what people had said to me. Although people in general were absolutely spot-on with one thing - it was hard work! But it came with so many benefits and opportunities. Jesus College was such a friendly and welcoming place and I got to know so many other students so fast.

I hope that with the solid understanding of law I gained from Cambridge, I can help vulnerable children and their families.

Thomas Hogg

Hartlepool Children's Services

Thomas Hogg

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Graduate, get a job … make a difference #2

ta385 — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 09:00:01 +0000

Charlotte Dixon (Churchill), BA (2014) Modern and Medieval Languages

Since graduating I’ve been working with the Department for International Development (DFID). I started on the one year Graduate Scheme, working in London, but in 2015 I went to Sierra Leone as part of the Ebola crisis response. My current role is Policy and Programme Manager at DFID Ethiopia.

I've only been in Ethiopia for four months, but I’m really enjoying it so far. Day-to-day life can be challenging at times but it’s definitely worth it. No day is ever the same, so I never know quite what to expect when I head to work in the morning. When I arrived, the security situation here was quite unstable, so I haven't been able to see much of the country yet, but travel restrictions have just been lifted so I’m looking forward to being able to explore a bit more.

What Cambridge did for me

I first heard about the DFID Graduate Scheme through the Cambridge Careers Service. After going along to a talk they had organised with alumni already working for DFID, I knew it was the career for me.

Studying at Cambridge has helped me because it teaches you how to think on your feet and work under pressure. I studied French, Spanish and a bit of Portuguese. I don’t use them in my day-to-day job, but the fact that I have studied languages in the past has definitely helped me to pick up Amharic (the official language of Ethiopia). There are quite a lot of opportunities to use languages in international development - I hope to work in a French-speaking part of Africa in the future.

Outside of work, learning languages has definitely enriched my life, giving me a greater understanding of other cultures and, most importantly, giving me an excuse to travel to countries like Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Guatemala.

My motivation

I always knew that I didn’t want to pursue a conventional career in the corporate world - I wanted to do something that would make a difference. I also knew I wanted a career that would allow me to travel.

Applying to Cambridge

I was lucky that quite a few people I knew from my school were also applying to Cambridge, so it didn’t feel quite so daunting, but I still remember it being a long and stressful process. ̽��ֱ��college I went to, Churchill, had a really good mix of people which made it really easy to settle in.

Studying at Cambridge teaches you how to think on your feet and work under pressure

Charlotte Dixon

Charlotte Dixon working in Sierra Leone

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Yes

Graduate, get a job, make a difference #1

ta385 — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 09:30:00 +0000

Sophie Dundovic, St John's College, BA (2013) Mathematics, Social Anthropology

Since graduating, I have co-founded Parasym Health, a medical device company that uses bioelectric medicine to treat chronic conditions such as Tinnitus and Depression. We are operating in a relatively new and growing market which means we need to be able to adapt quickly. I’m often learning new skills or troubleshooting problems that I have never come across before. As a company we are motivated by positive feedback from users and our aim is to grow the company and to have a positive impact on the lives of many more people.

Applying to Cambridge

I remember walking around St John's on a cold December evening after being interviewed. I was in awe of the surroundings but the support provided was excellent throughout the application process and this continued throughout my time at the College. Back then I didn't know anyone who had studied at Cambridge, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I quickly made friends both on my course and in the ̽��ֱ�� Athletic Club.

What Cambridge did for me

My time at Cambridge was formative in many ways. ̽��ֱ��teaching environment encourages independent thinking and that has been very important for me in my professional life. Particularly in the early stages of a company, business decisions can have critical outcomes and sometimes you need to do things that go against the conventional wisdom. Being able to question things and not being afraid to make bold suggestions is important.

What I’m doing now is very different to the career I imagined when I was 17. At Cambridge I met a lot of talented, motivated and interesting people, many of whom have become great friends. Conversations with these people challenged my views about what was possible. Some of the courses I took as an undergraduate also dramatically developed my way of thinking, and I was very fortunate in having the opportunity to live in Germany for a year as part of a reciprocal exchange between Cambridge and Heidelberg ̽��ֱ��. I was able to pursue very specific areas of interest that year, as well as learning a language, which was very rewarding. It was then that I started to think seriously about my career path.

My motivation

While I think I've always been motivated by social aims, the academic freedom at Cambridge allowed me to explore exactly what that meant and how I might apply it in work. Exposure to the research environment has also allowed me to better understand the objectives of some of the different stakeholders that we deal with as a company. We often receive emails from patients telling us that our products have really improved their quality of life and that provides us with plenty of motivation to keep improving what we are doing.

At Cambridge I met a lot of talented, motivated and interesting people. Conversations challenged my views about what was possible.

Sophie Dundovic

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Yes