Holly Robertson
Holly graduated with an MDiet degree in 2024 and is now working as a Band 5 Paediatric Dietitian in the NHS.
Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?
For me, moving to a new city far from home was an exciting new opportunity to grow in confidence and explore my independence. When applying to universities I was fortunate enough to go through the interview process which gave me such a good feel for the city as well as the university itself. As soon as I arrived in Newcastle I just had a feeling I’d love it and after looking through the curriculum for dietetics it was just a no brainer for me.
What did/do you love about Newcastle University?
I think Newcastle as a city has such a friendly community feel about it which I think translates into university life itself. I personally felt so well supported in my learning throughout my studies at Newcastle as well as feeling supported by the people around me in my day to day life. I always felt at home.
What did you enjoy most (or least!) about your course?
We were the first year of the MDiet course at Newcastle which was hard in the sense that everyone was still getting used to how everything ran and seeing if things worked as we progressed, but equally, that meant that the course was extremely modern, relevant and at the forefront of education when it came to dietetics as it had this fresh new perspective.
Our learning was such a great mixture of practical and interactive as well as your typical sit down lectures. For me this was such a huge motivator as I always felt engaged, and nothing felt repetitive or monotonous. Overall, for me the biggest thing again was the support. Since we’re a smaller cohort compared to a lot of other courses, we got to know our lecturers well and built such a close bond with our course mates which created such a supportive environment.
Tell us a little bit about career journey. How did you get into what you do now?
Paediatrics is an area I’ve always been interested in and my experiences on placement really confirmed that for me. Usually, I thought paediatrics was something most dietitians specialise in as a Band 6, however many hospitals are beginning to offer job posts as Band 5s. Luckily for me, whilst on the job hunt I saw an advertisement for a rotational position in Manchester where I was looking to move to and jumped at the chance to take it. It felt like a huge opportunity for me as I knew it was a really well supported role with it being a bigger jump into Paeds. Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is also the largest single site children’s hospital in the UK with some amazing specialist facilities, so I feel very fortunate to be working there!
What do you enjoy most about your current job?
Working with kids is so special because of their outlook on life and I’m always amazed by their ability to go through treatment or deal with an illness with such bravery. Working in healthcare has always made me extremely grateful for my family, my friends and my own health. It’s such a privilege to help people and make a difference to a lot of families' lives, especially in paeds.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career journey?
Whilst working in paeds is so rewarding it’s also really hard. My main rotation is Oncology and Haematology which can be really tough when you see kids who are very unwell, but I’m lucky to have an amazing team of dietitians around me who are all really good at talking things through.
I also found the transition from university to a job a lot harder than expected! Whilst placement prepares you well, there is always still SO much to learn whether you’re a Band 5 or a Band 7. I think I’d expected to go into my job flying whereas it needs to be a much slower supported journey as you transition into an independent practitioner. Learning not to plan ahead too much has been a valuable lesson for me as you’ll often get thrown curve balls and have to think on your feet!
How did your course and experiences at Newcastle University prepare you for your current role?
I feel that the course itself has given me well rounded knowledge and experience preparing me for the workplace particularly teamwork. It’s always been so important at university and is unbelievably important at work. Being comfortable asking questions, being curious and talking things through doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing, it means you know there’s always more to learn especially from each other. Hearing my classmates and my lecturers’ perspectives has taught me so much. Similarly, working with students from other courses such as speech and language therapy and medicine has always taught me the importance of multidisciplinary team working and communication which is essential in the workplace.
What one piece of advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started?
Be realistic in your expectations i.e. don’t expect to be flying off the bat but be confident enough to ask questions and learn more. You have knowledge and the experience but there’s still so much you don’t know. You’re adapting to a new environment, with new people, new policies, and potentially clinical scenarios you’ve never experienced so it’s okay to cut yourself some slack!
Holly graduated in July 2024 with an MDiet in Dietetics.