Rachael Brown MSc Public Health, 2015

Patient and Community Engagement Facilitator, Solent NHS Trust, Academy of Research and Improvement

“I’m very passionate about health promotion and I realised that if I did not undertake an MSc I would not be prepared for the career that I wanted. So I enrolled on the Public Health course at the University of Southampton. It has a very good reputation and unlike other universities, offered a nutrition pathway, which greatly appealed to me. That, coupled with its great location and competitive tuition fees, meant it was great fit for me.

I enjoyed my time at Southampton immensely – there were great opportunities to network with part-time students as well as chances to meet and speak to guest speakers and subject specialists.

I enjoyed my time at Southampton immensely – there were great opportunities to network with part-time students already working in public health as well as chances to meet and speak to guest speakers and subject specialists. The facilities are excellent and the staff’s knowledge and willingness to help is outstanding.

I learnt so much during my time there and it undoubtedly helped me on my way to where I am today.  I would encourage other students to do the same; it is not easy, but the challenge is worthwhile. I developed a vast number of skills which I use in the workplace, including being about to communicate with many different people in different forms, being able to mitigate risk, project planning, justifying an evidence base for work and planning and implementing evaluation. The list could go on and on.

The MSc equipped me with the skills I needed to successfully gain employment and flourish in roles with a local authority public health team, then delivering the Diabetes Prevention Programme in Hampshire, and now community involvement work. I facilitated group sessions across eight locations that aimed to support and guide people who are at risk of Type II diabetes to make lifestyle changes to either prevent the disease or to delay the onset. The skills and confidence I obtained at Southampton helped me to do that.”