Sophie Gibbins (2011-2018) shared her experience of the NHS scientist training programme and life after Exeter School.
Where has life taken you since Exeter School?
After leaving Exeter School I went on to study Physics at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 2022. I found the degree interesting, however I quickly realised that I wanted to work in a field where I would be able to apply it to help people. Thankfully, I attended a careers talk in my second year where I heard about the world of Medical Physics, which quickly piqued my interest! I was lucky enough to secure work experience in the radiotherapy department at the RD&E over the summer of my third year and did my master’s project on proton microbeam radiotherapy.
I applied for the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) in my final year at university and secured a place on the Radiotherapy Physics specialism at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Radiotherapy Physicists are involved in ensuring the treatment is both safe and effective. The role is varied but involves treatment planning, performing quality control on equipment and commissioning new equipment. Most people in my department also have individual projects which may be looking at streamlining processes through to investigating new treatment techniques.
The STP is a 3 year work-based training programme which prepares graduates to become registered Clinical Scientists. A part-time master’s degree in Clinical Science is completed alongside the training. I am about half-way through my training and will soon be looking for a project to take on for my degree.
What do you most enjoy about the training programme you’re on?
There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work, involving many different staff groups, that goes into delivering radiotherapy. I love knowing that I’m part of a team whose work has an impact on individual patients.
I also really enjoy still being a part-time student and going up to Liverpool for university a few times a year. It’s a great chance to consolidate things I’ve seen at work, and I love catching up with my peers from different centres around the country.
How do you hope to use the qualification you’re working towards?
On completing the STP I hope to register as a Clinical Scientist and start working as a qualified Radiotherapy Physicist in the NHS. I’ve really enjoyed my rotation in brachytherapy so would like to work somewhere where I could be involved in that. I also hope to be able to continue with some research when I qualify, currently having a particular interest in spatial fractionation following my master’s project at UOB.
