Johnathan is from Kinsale, County Cork, and is currently in his final year of Dietetics at ¹û¶³´«Ã½. He has always had a keen interest in health and nutrition and the preventative role that diet can play in the management of certain health conditions.
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Note the course is now an integrated Master of Dietetics undergraduate degree (2022/23)
Why ¹û¶³´«Ã½?
Why did you choose to study at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ and what attracted you to the course?
On choosing a university to study dietetics, I attended the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ open day, and I was very impressed with how modern it was. I liked the small size of the University and how helpful the staff were in providing information surrounding the course. I really liked how everything I needed was within close proximity to campus, and I felt this was very important for my first time living away from home. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ has an exceptional reputation for healthcare courses, and the dietetics course is very well respected. Also, an added bonus to living on campus was the six-minute train to Edinburgh, which is such a vibrant and beautiful city that felt like a second home for me.
About the course
What have you most enjoyed about your course?
Dietetics has been a challenging but extremely rewarding course to study. I have gained so much knowledge and experience across different health conditions such as cancer, rehabilitation, chronic kidney disease and gastrointestinal conditions. I have just completed my dissertation, which primarily focused on availability, cost and nutritional implications of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome. I have really enjoyed my placement experiences within acute and community settings which allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge that I learned in class to clinical practice. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ primarily focuses on interprofessional education and team working in healthcare through interprofessional education modules. Hence, I had a good idea of what it would be like working with other members of the multidisciplinary team such as physiotherapists, nurses and speech and language therapists.
Dietetics can be quite a demanding and intense course, so time-management and prioritisation of your workload are essential. I found that ¹û¶³´«Ã½ was very supportive with any concerns that I had throughout the duration of the course and my personal academic tutor provided me continuous advice and guidance on all aspects of university life if I felt like I was struggling.
"I think the most valuable lesson that I have learned at university is the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded and positive people who support you."
Life as a student at ¹û¶³´«Ã½
Have you joined any schemes/initiatives to enhance your learning and development?
I am an active member of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), and I have been involved in numerous projects tailored towards public health nutrition. Most recently, I represented the BDA at the Food Matters Live 2019 conference in London, promoting their 'One Blue Dot' campaign, which focused on environmentally sustainable diets. I am currently working on writing an article for 'Dietetics Today' surrounding this project, and my aim is to try to increase awarenessÌýabout volunteering opportunities for dietetic students. Moreover, I am a member of some BDA specialist groups, which primarily focus on specific areas of dietetic practice, including mental health and sports nutrition – two areas of dietetics that I am particularly passionate about.
Are you a member of a ¹û¶³´«Ã½ club or society?
I am a member of the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Dietetics Society and have thoroughly enjoyed attending talks across all areas of dietetics.
What has been the most valuable lesson that you've learned at university?
I think the most valuable lesson that I have learned at university is the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded and positive people who support you. It is important to have a network of people who are understanding when you are living away from home, and it is always nice to know that you are not alone in your experiences.
[Published February 2020]