MSc - Nutritional Medicine

When I started on the programme I was a Specialist Registrar on the West Midlands Gastroenterology rotational training programme, and am now a Consultant Gastroenterologist with an interest in clinical nutrition in the Dudley Group of Hospitals.

My interest in nutrition was sparked when working for a local gastroenterology consultant who managed a large home parenteral nutrition service, and furthered by observing nutritional challenges with in-patient care. This course is, I believe, ideal for any professional dealing with nutritional issues.

Whilst there are other gastroenterology registrars on the course, students come from all varieties
of backgrounds, for example, dietitians, GPs, pharmacists, dentists, nutritionists and others. With such a wide mix of backgrounds, discussions in seminars and lecturers (as well as socially) are
very stimulating.

The modules cover a wide range of issues of nutrition in health and disease, providing a wellbalanced, scientific and pragmatic view. Every module attracts both national and international experts to share their knowledge.

Whilst the amount of work is considerable, it is this, the slick administration, enthusiasm of
the tutors and lecturers, support of the course organisers and the speakers’ standing in their fields that earns this course, and the awards/degrees, such a high reputation.

“Although the demands on my time and energy were challenging, I received unbeatable support from the team at Surrey.”

Sarah, a Practice Development Midwife with 15 years’ experience as a qualified nurse and 11 years’ experience as a qualified midwife, explains how a Masters from the University of Surrey has boosted her career prospects.

“I wanted a course that would enable me to consolidate my previous experience and give me the qualification I needed for career progression. I chose the University of Surrey because it offers higher education as part of a contract with local Trusts. I was also looking to study at a university that could rival others at a national and even an international level.

The most challenging aspect of the course was juggling my academic work, working for the Trust and family life. The impact of studying for a Masters on family life can never be underestimated, so time management is key. For me, this often meant studying in the evening, which after a long day at work was gruelling.

Although the demands on my time and energy were challenging, I received unbeatable support from the team at Surrey. The emphasis wasn’t on taking away my challenges, but providing me with guidance so I could find a path that enabled me to achieve my full potential.

Now I have completed the course, the sense of achievement I have is immeasurable. At Surrey, you’re encouraged to think outside the box and consider new ideas.

Based on the results of my Masters, I have been awarded a full-time funded PhD studentship at Surrey. It’s thanks to the experience I had during my Masters that I had the confidence to even apply.”

"The national and international speakers are experts in their field, and gave highly engaging and cutting-edge lectures."

I qualified as a pharmacist in 1995 and initially practised community pharmacy before becoming a primary care pharmacist advising GPs on prescribing in Surrey. I've always had a keen interest in modifiable risk factors for disease, especially diet.

I've found the course to be both stimulating and challenging. The national and international speakers are experts in their field, and gave highly engaging and cutting-edge lectures. The diversity of healthcare backgrounds amongst students, which included dietitians, doctors, nurses, nutritional therapists and pharmacists, made for interesting discussions both in and out of lectures.

"The course gave me a solid scientific basis to make future recommendations on how to use of nutrition to both prevent and treat disease."
Whilst it was hard work juggling lectures and essays, around my family and work life, the course was so enjoyable that it was worth the effort.

My own experience is that pharmacists are often strong advocates of ‘prevention is better than cure’ and the course gave me a solid scientific basis to make future recommendations on how to use of nutrition to both prevent and treat disease.

As a result of studying nutritional medicine, my career has changed direction and I now work as a consultant pharmacist and medical writer. This includes writing articles about nutrition for pharmacy publications.

"There are so many things about Surrey that I'll never forget - the location, the quality of education etc. However, my strongest memory is the friendliness of the staff."

My course
When I started looking for a course, I was doing my postdoctoral training in London. My specialism is infant and young child nutrition, and I explored the opportunities available in the UK to further my knowledge on that subject in particular, and medical nutrition in general. After searching all the academic courses available, the MSc Nutritional Medicine course course at Surrey looked closest to fulfilling my objective.

My career and development
Becoming a doctor was my childhood dream. During my schooldays, I was attracted to several other subjects as well, but those were not strong enough to distract me. After getting into the medical school, I was really glad that I made that choice. I felt empowered to help people who are really in need.

I see my present position as a challenge as well as an achievement. There were so many things on the way, which gave me a huge satisfaction. It always gives me a great pleasure to think about the workshop organised for heads of major hospitals and other medical administrators of Sri Lanka on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), which was an initial step aimed at revitalising the BFHI process in the country. I was only a non-specialist medical officer at that time, and I had to do it almost single-handedly. However, it was well attended, not only by medical administrators, but also by a technical expert from UNICEF headquarters in New York, and was considered a huge success. However I could not take that process further, as I had to leave for my post-doctoral training in the UK.


My most memorable moment
There are so many nice things about Surrey, that I will never forget - the location, the quality of education etc. However, the strongest memory would be the friendliness and unpretentiousness of the staff. Whenever I needed help, either within the campus or through emails, I always received it, be it from the course director and other academic staff or from the administrative staff. To date, I am encouraged to keep in contact with the University - I do not think there are very many universities that can rival Surrey on that.