The Nutritional Supplement

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

I began studying for an MSc alongside the Nutritional Therapy Practice Diploma in 2013.  My studies began on the 24^th of January, the day before my eldest daughters 1^st birthday which was also the day I discovered I was pregnant with her sister! I graduated in 2015 with the MSc but it took a little longer to complete the NTPD.

What did you do before doing this course?

I qualified as an acupuncturist and naturopath in 2005 and I’ve mainly worked in my own clinic since then.  I did however take some time out for a few years to work as a senior education officer for an animal welfare charity.  This was mainly because I knew that somewhere down the line I wanted my work to be a combination of practice and education and I felt I needed to gain some valuable experience in the education field.

What made you embark on this course of study and what attracted you to the MSc?

This is the easiest question I’ll ever have to answer, and it’s extremely clear cut for me.  I suffered eight long and lonely years of infertility before I was blessed with my daughters and the first time I held my eldest child I vowed that I would use every tool I had at my disposal to help other women and couples in the same position.  I simply had tunnel vision from that point onwards.  Ironically, I already worked with infertile couples and those going through IVF with acupuncture, but I needed more, and I felt robust nutritional therapy training was the way to go for me.  I decided upon the MSc because I felt the higher my credentials the greater my chances of working with medical fertility centres and clinics in Ireland and their IVF patients.  I also felt that a science/evidence based practice might attract more couples suffering from unexplained or medically diagnosed infertility who wanted to try for a natural pregnancy.    

Were you working whilst studying?

Yes, I was working full-time, and either pregnant or nursing for a large chunk of it too!

Did you reach your work goals after graduation?

Yes, I certainly did.  I rebranded my clinic as a ‘Biomedical Nutrition, Functional Medicine and Clinical Acupuncture’ clinic and renamed it ‘Fertility Health Clinic’.  I also established a very close working relationship with one of Irelands largest fertility health clinics and I am now an external consultant for them.  This clinic is very forward thinking and, as with many of their peers worldwide, they acknowledge the rightful role of nutritional therapy in optimising reproductive health.  I’m absolutely delighted that, after many meetings and presentations with this clinic, they now refer many their patients to me prior to IVF treatments.  I also work with clients who are aiming for a natural pregnancy and I thrive as a practitioner when faced with clients who suffer idiopathic infertility or who have complications due to endometriosis. 

What are your future plans?

I have so many!  Initially my plan is to develop and nurture a working relationship with as many fertility clinics in Ireland as possible, and I have already set the ball rolling on this so 2018 should be an exciting year here.  I’m also a writer and I have some plans afoot here too.  I’ve also embarked on some research that keeps coming to the front of my mind at the most inopportune moments – like when I’m trying to squeeze in some sleep!  Ultimately, I have put myself on a journey and the end goal is to become an expert in optimising reproductive function, optimising IVF outcomes (which is where my present research is focused) and determining possible mechanisms that may underpin or mediate some aspects of unexplained infertility.

What or who has inspired you most?

Kate Neil.  There are many fertility experts whom I follow and admire, and one USA based women’s health expert in particular – Jessica Drummond – who I strive to emulate, but Kate Neil’s passion for functional medicine and her unwavering vision of nutritional therapy and what it can be as a profession had a profound effect on me during my studies and continues to influence me. 

Do you have any tips, hints, things you’d have done differently...?

I would NOT have underestimated the amount of time and study the NTPD entailed!  In fact, I found the MSc to be a breeze in comparison.  However, as I said to my module leader on many an occasion, the hours spent writing and re-writing, and referencing and re-referencing my work when my supervisors pushed me to the limits of my knowledge meant I came out the other side as a safe, ethical and knowledgeable evidence-based practitioner.  So, the only tip I would give to students is to put themselves at the mercy of their supervisors and module leaders and they will, without doubt, help you (make you!) become the very best you can be.

I just want to say a personal thanks to CNELM for giving me the opportunity to achieve my academic goals and for training me to such a high standard.  As an extension of you, I hope many women and couples will have an easier journey towards parenthood.