Claire recently completed an MRes in Clinical Research at Teesside University with support from the NIHR INSIGHT programme. She shares her unconventional journey into physiotherapy, how an unexpected research placement changed her perspective and why the NIHR INSIGHT programme helped her discover a passion for research alongside clinical practice.
This career story has been adapted from a profile originally published by the Newcastle Health Research Partnership (NHRP).
When I was in high school, I wanted to be a physiotherapist. But it was made quite clear to me that I wouldn’t get the grades to get a place at university. I just “wasn’t academic enough” to be a physiotherapist, which was a really hard thing to hear. So, I listened and went on a very different journey that involved studying dance, becoming a teacher, and running away with the circus.
20 years later, I found myself seeking a career change due to burnout and stress, and decided it was finally time to pursue the career I had once imagined for myself. I was delighted that Teesside University saw potential in me and offered me a place on their physiotherapy course.
An unexpected detour
The course was tough, and the learning curve was steep. Being on placement brought an array of challenges, but it felt really good to be learning “on the job” and work with patients who needed help and support.
The physiotherapy course at Teesside University involves six practice placements. The final two placements take place immediately after submitting a dissertation. At that stage, most students are eager to focus on hands-on clinical practice, developing their physiotherapy skills and gaining as much real-world experience as possible.
It was an exciting prospect. However, I was allocated a research placement. To be completely honest, I was disappointed. A research placement was not the experience I wanted, nor was it the experience I thought I needed before securing a role as a junior physiotherapist.
As it turned out, I could not have been more wrong.
Discovering research
My research placement developed into an unexpected and incredibly rewarding learning experience. Not only did I learn about conducting research, but I also gained first-hand insight into how research works in practice and what it means to the people involved in these projects.
I began to understand why research skills are so important in clinical practice. With the support of my research educators, I was able to thrive and was given opportunities not only to develop new skills but also to apply and refine many of the skills I had gained during my previous career.
It was these educators who first encouraged me to consider the NIHR INSIGHT programme. My immediate reaction was one of self-doubt. There was no way I was good enough to complete a master’s degree, and I certainly didn’t think I had what it took to become a researcher.
Taking a chance on NIHR INSIGHT
However, when I graduated, the job market was relatively limited, and I needed something to keep me moving forward while I looked for work.
Although part of me felt it would be a pointless endeavour, I applied for the NIHR INSIGHT programme. Before I knew it, I had secured funding for the next year of my life and an opportunity to challenge the assumptions I had always held about myself. I had the chance to prove that I was capable of studying at this level.
It was not easy, but I am unbelievably proud to have successfully completed the course. Throughout the year, I received an enormous amount of support from colleagues at Teesside University, who generously gave their time and expertise to help me navigate the complexities of research.
My dissertation also presented an opportunity to not only dive into an area of research that I am passionate about, but also reflect on connections with previous placements, patients I had met and in a weird and wonderful way, hula hooping when I was pregnant; this actually formed the basis of the work and it was a joy to bring all of these aspects together within a. body of work.
I learnt that it takes a village to make it through an MRes, I would not have been as successful in my course had it not been for the team supporting me at Teesside University. If you helped me understand statistics and SPSS, answered endless email questions, explained forest plots, or helped me recognise the potential in “The Belly Words”, thank you. Those moments of support meant a great deal to me.
A new perspective on research
If someone had asked me four years ago whether I would consider a career in research, my answer would have been no. I would not have considered myself capable of such a career, and I certainly would not have believed I could understand the many nuances involved in research.
Today, my answer would be very different. I would say yes, and I would also say that I have come to love those nuances.
I recently described myself as a junior MSK physiotherapist who is moonlighting as a researcher. That feels like an accurate description, and I would not have it any other way. I am excited to see where the next step in my journey takes me. That next step involves trying to publish my dissertation, so my supervisor has not quite got rid of me yet.
Why NIHR INSIGHT matters
The NIHR INSIGHT programme is an incredible opportunity for anyone at the start of their research career to explore an area of healthcare that matters to them. I am extremely grateful for the support I received through the programme, and I am delighted to know that another cohort will have the opportunity to follow a similar path. The programme gave me much more than research experience. It helped me discover a level of confidence and belief in myself that I did not previously have.
