Alumni profiles - Roanna Burgess

MSc Advancing Practice (Manipulative Route), Part-time 2010

Consultant Physiotherapist NHS (Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust (part-time)) and Advanced MOD Physiotherapist (RAF Cosford)

Within 6 months of commencing the MSc I gained a Band 7 post working for the MOD."

Please provide a short paragraph detailing how your career has developed since graduating from the University of Birmingham.

I was working full time as a Band 6 in the NHS when I started the programme. Within 6 months of commencing the MSc I gained a Band 7 post working for the MOD. On completion of my MSc I was successful in applying for a part-time post as a Consultant Physiotherapist 8B in the NHS alongside continuing with my MOD role. My MOD role has subsequently become more of a clinical leadership and mentorship role, training MACP students within the MOD and Officers joining the Physiotherapy cadre.

What is the best thing about the job you are doing now?

I particularly enjoy the teaching component of both my current roles and the time to focus on research and best practice playing a leading role to integrate this into practice.

Why did you originally apply to do your chosen course at Birmingham?

I was keen to progress my manual therapy and clinical reasoning skills and expertise. I live in close proximity to the University and enjoyed doing my undergraduate study at Birmingham so it was the ideal choice for my MSc study.

What did you think were the best points of the course and the University?

  • Strong clinical reasoning focus and how to apply learning into clinical practice
  • Focus on evidence base and integration into clinical practice
  • Research skill development

How did you grow as a person by studying at University? Did it change your life in any way?

It gave me greater confidence in my own practice and ability, gave me presentation skills and allowed me to put myself forwards for career development with greater confidence that I had the ability to succeed in a role. It also inspired me to undertake a PhD at some point in the future.