The Nutritional Supplement

What Course(s) did you graduate from at CNELM and when did you graduate?

I graduated with an MSc in Personalised Nutrition in July 2016.

What made you decide to embark on this course of study?

I had gone through the functional medicine education with the Institute for Functional Medicine in the US, and having done AFMCP (Applied Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice) and the seven APMs (Advanced Practice Modules) I decided that the next step was formal education in the UK. CNELM was an obvious choice for me for a few reasons. First, fellow peers said the education delivered by CNELM was of a high quality. Second, I understood from discussions that core components of functional medicine were built into the MSc pathway. I am really happy I studied with CNELM because both turned out to be true, and the staff were clearly passionate about their areas of expertise.

What did you do before taking the MSc?

I have been in the health and fitness field for over 15 years, predominantly in the field of corrective exercise, sports therapy and strength and conditioning. My role is to help athletes take a proactive and preventative approach - much like functional medicine and nutritional therapy does, but using a different form of intervention.  

What work did you do after graduating?

I will continue to travel with athletes, support private clients in clinic and deliver corporate wellness programmes - and the MSc will no doubt be very beneficial here.  I really loved the course, even though it was hard at times balancing academic studies with business.

How did you promote your practise?

I invested in good quality online and offline branding for my company 360 Health & Performance, but really the best source of marketing has come from client referrals. My experience in the health industry has shown me that delivering the best service and results I can with clients is the best source of promotion available. I use social media, but conservatively, as I do not want to add to the “noise” we all come across.

Is there anything you wish you’d known before finishing your studies that you might have prepared for differently?

I knew the MSc dissertation was going to take up a lot of time and I planned accordingly as best I could. However, it was pretty all consuming in the final three months. This wasn’t an issue as I enjoyed it, but at times I think I would have benefitted with a nutritional therapist from CNELM to look after me!

From an education stand point, I would really encourage others starting their education with CNELM to spend time up front getting really comfortable with molecular biology at whatever level you are studying (BSc, MSc, etc.). This really helps when navigating the research literature and getting the most from education delivered by CNELM. Upfront investment here pays dividends down the line.  

Tell us more about 360 – what does it involve and how did the idea come to you?

360 Health & Performance is a company I started formally a few years ago. We have a team of clinicians, coaches and practitioners and are involved in three key markets: professional sport, private clinic and corporate wellness. We have been in sport and clinic for a decade or so now, which has been great fun and a positive learning curve.

We have recently entered the corporate wellness arena based on the feedback of senior executives, who were coming to us with various clusters of health issues that were poorly addressed by existing paradigms and the reactive private medical insurance model. We want to redefine the way proactive corporate wellness is delivered so that it empowers the employee but also generates a clear return on value and investment for the organisation. We are taking a 4P medicine approach to this, and utilising iOS technology we have developed, and so far it has been well received by organisations. It’s exciting and I am really looking forward to seeing how it develops.

What or who has most inspired you in your work?

Great question! As with most people, there are so many great influencers out there in different fields, and I like to read from many. I read across health, nutrition, fitness, self-development, business and technology as these are central to 360 and my personal passion. Above all, I’m inspired by those are that have a clear sense of mission, are bold in their steps, are willing to fail and be vulnerable, yet determined to do something every day that makes a positive impact on the world on some level. This isn’t rhetorical for me; it is central to how I want to live and anyone doing it has a message I want to learn from.  

Do you have any tips, hints, regrets...?

Another great question! Regarding tips, I’d say just be organised – really organised. For me, clarity of mind generates confidence and competence in my work. When I’m unorganised, I waste amazing amounts of time thinking I am being productive by being busy, when in fact I am just busy but not remotely productive.

As for hints, I’d say read the IFM textbook or attend courses as soon as you can if possible to supplement your learning with CNELM. It’ll really smooth the path.

As for regrets, I guess the only thing I wish I had done is start earlier. What CNELM is doing is amazing, and I know that I would have been in a better position if I had gained my MSc earlier. However, all of us are at an exciting time when it comes to systems biology, personalised nutrition and the future of healthcare, so there is plenty of great opportunities coming up for all of us.