Which course did you graduate from at CNELM and when did you graduate?
I graduated from the MSc in Personalised Nutrition in April 2024 and Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma in May 2024.
What did you do before doing this course?
Before studying with CNELM I worked in HR for large multinational companies.
What made you decide to embark on this course of study and what attracted you to CNELM?
My personal health journey led me to study nutrition. I had part of my bowel removed age 20 and spend ten years struggling with digestive symptoms until I saw a Nutritional Therapist. I changed my diet, and it transformed my life.
My undergraduate degree was a BSc in Biochemistry, so I had always enjoyed studying science. The programme at CNELM attracted me because, firstly it was an MSc level programme and secondly it was remote which meant I had the flexibility to study around caring for my school aged children.
What was your first role after graduating?
I graduated in May 2024 so I have been busy setting up my business which will be an online gut health clinic.
How did you kickstart your practice / career?
I joined many free webinars from business coaches during the run up to graduation. I have also decided to invest in software solutions which will automate many of the clinic processes. I am also going to partner with a local osteopath clinic to kick-start my practice.
Where has your career taken you so far?
I am at the beginning of my nutrition career and I’m excited to see where it takes me!
Do you specialise in a particular area of health?
My personal health journey has been around gut health, this is an area I focussed on for my MSc dissertation and my clinic will be focussed on supporting people with gut issues.
Which part do you think has been the most rewarding or successful?
During the teaching clinic it was really rewarding to see how clients had made progress and were feeling better. I am looking forward to seeing this in my own practice.
Is there anything you wish you’d known before finishing your studies that you might have prepared for differently?
I wish I had known more about what setting up a business entailed. I felt prepared for the nutrition side but needed support with the marketing, admin and legal aspects of running a business.
What or who has most inspired you in your work?
I am inspired by Natalie Burrows of Integral Wellness who has built a very successful clinic in just a few years.
Do you have any tips, hints, things you’d have done differently...?
It’s not necessarily easy to know at the outset but consider what you want to do post-graduation. Do you prefer to work for yourself, in a multi-disciplinary clinic, employed in industry etc? I realised during my studies that I missed having colleagues and working in an office, so I will do some in-person work in a local multi-disciplinary clinic.