Marianne Williams MSc in Allergy

NHS Community Dietitian

Hi, I'm Marianne Williams and I studied MSc in Allergy within Medicine at the University of Southampton.

The confidence this course gave me has been fundamental in me winning the NHS England accolade of AHP of the Year in 2018.

Registered Dietitian, BSc Hons in Human Nutrition & Dietetics, studied the MSc in Allergy at Southampton Medical School.

Self and part NHS/Soton bursary funded and working as a NHS Community Dietitian with a special interest in allergy & IBS.

I fell into the MSc by accident! I was keen to learn more about food allergy and enrolled on the Food Allergy module in 2009 fully expecting to simply listen to lectures and return home with new found knowledge.  I had no intention of writing essays or completing assignments. 

But I was fascinated by the lectures and realised quickly that the most effective way of learning was to read extensively around the subject and formulate the information into a coherent essay.  I learnt so much simply from this process.  The knowledge stayed lodged in my brain as a result, which gave me the confidence to start using it in a clinical setting.  Having this knowledge made me able to question clinical decisions and to become a more vital and informed member of the team.  I was no longer happy to simply accept a diagnosis but was now able to analyse the decision and feel happy that the patient advice was correct. 

I reached PGCert level and then was bitten by the bug and carried on until I finished the MSc in 2013 with distinction. It was a challenge juggling work, three kids, a husband (also doing an MSc!) and study.  But the benefits far out weigh the struggle and the confidence this course gave me has been fundamental in me winning the NHS England accolade of AHP of the Year in 2018.  Thank you to Judith Holloway and her team.