Postgraduate alumni profiles

Find out what our postgraduate alumni thought of their time studying and living in Birmingham:

Aliki Taylor, Masters of Public Health, 1999 and PhD, 2007 | Director of Observational Research in Biotechnology

Description
Carrying out a PhD in Cancer Epidemiology at Birmingham was rewarding for Aliki as there are strong existing links with cancer charities and other universities with cancer epidemiology research teams.

Annabek Maclachlan, PhD Cardiovascular Sciences, 2020 | Associate Medical Publications Manager

Description
Annabek Maclachlan currently works as a Associate Medical Publications Manager at Excerpta Medica and completed a PhD in Cardiovascular Sciences in 2020.

Ashleigh Wilcox, MRes Biomedical Research: Integrative & Translational, 2014 | DPhil student at the University of Oxford

Description
Completing my MRes gave me invaluable experience in animal research and further developed my skills as an independent researcher, improving my suitability as a DPhil candidate.

Bill Malcolm, MSc Health Economics and Health Policy, Part-time 2012 | Health Economics and Outcomes Research Manager

Description
Bill is currently Health Economics and Outcomes Research Manager at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK. The best part of the course for him was the flexibility for students that are also in full-time employment. Bill found that the quality of material taught was excellent and relevant to employers.

Chris Baird-Clarke, MSc Occupational Health, Full-time 2012 | Specialist Registrar

Description
Chris is currently a Specialist Registrar at Bristol Hospital NHST Occupational Health Dept (on secondment from HM Forces Army).

Claudia Román-Montañana, PhD 2020 | Research Laboratory Associate at Birmingham Women's Hospital

Description
Claudia Román-Montañana currently works as a Research Laboratory Associate at Birmingham Women's Hospital (NHS) and completed a PhD in 2020.

Danni Li PhD Immunology, 2019 | Senior Scientist at Charles River

Description
Alumni profile for Danni Li - PhD in Immunology 2019 - Senior Scientist at Charles River

Gareth Hooper MSc Health Economics and Health Policy, 2019 | Health Economist

Description
Gareth Hooper graduated with a MSc Health Economics and Health Policy in 2019. He currently works at the Oxford Academic Health Science network and is on the Technology Appraisal Committee B at NICE.

Gillian Hornzee, MSc Clinical Oncology, part-time 2011 | Trials Team Leader

Description
Gillian had previously been working as a trials coordinator, but after graduating she was promoted to Team Leader, heading up a team of 5 people and running all the cancer trials run at St Mary's Hospital site of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Helen Stokes-Lampard, MSc Primary Care Research Methods, 2003 & PhD Medicine, 2010 | GP Principal and Clinical Senior Lecturer

Description
Helen is currently GP Principal at The Cloisters Medical Practice, Lichfield, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Birmingham, Primary Care and Honorary Treasurer of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Iain Chapple, PhD Dentistry, 1993 | Professor of Periodontology

Description
Iain commenced his specialist training to become a consultant immediately upon completing his PhD. In 2001 he was awarded a personal chair at the University of Birmingham.

Karin Diaconu, PhD in Health and Population, 2016 | Research Fellow

Description
Karin graduated in 2016 and is now a Research Fellow at Queen Margaret University.

Jenny Gough, Masters of Public Health (MPH), 2003 | Deputy Director of Public Health Camden

Description
University changed my life completely. It gave me the confidence to apply for posts I would otherwise not have considered and helped me reach my goals.

Kamlesh Patel, PhD Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2020 | Surgical Registrar at Birmingham Children's Hospital

Description
Kamlesh Patel PhD Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 2020 | Surgical Registrar at Birmingham Children's Hospital

Kemal Deen, MD, 1993 | Chairman in Surgery at the University of Kelaniya Medical School, Sri Lanka and Consultant in General and Intestinal Surgery

Description
Since leaving Birmingham Kemel undertook a fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Medical School, USA.

Karen Murch, Physician Associate PGDip | Physician Associate

Description
The course was both challenging and enjoyable and prepared me well for my placements and job as a PA.

Hannah Nieto, PhD in Molecular Biology - recurrent thyroid cancer, 2020 | ENT Registar

Description
Hannah Nieto studied for a PhD in Molecular Biology specifically in recurrent thyroid cancer and graduated in 2020. She is currently an ENT Registar at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley.

Lucy Oakey, PhD in Experimental Medicine, 2020 Translational Research Manager at University of Birmingham

Description
Lucy Oakey, PhD in Experimental Medicine, 2020 Translational Research Manager at University of Birmingham

Paul Fisher, Masters in Public Health (MPH), Part-time 2009 | 4th year student on the West Midlands Public Health Training Scheme

Description
The year after graduating Paul left my old post at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and successfully applied for the West Midlands Public Health Training Scheme.

Penny Matuska, Physician Associate PGDip, full-time | Physician Associate

Description
Penny made the career change to being a Physician Associate at a late point. It was a brilliant move.

Pete Gorman, Physician Associate PGDip, full-time | Physician Associate

Description
Pete finds his role challenging and exciting.

Rachel Hoare, MSc Clinical Oncology, part-time 2012 | Research Technician

Description
Rachel is committed to cancer research and enjoys making a positive contribution to cancer research fields through her laboratory work.

Rachel Mail, Physician Associate PGDip, full-time | Physician Associate

Description
Rachel thoroughly enjoys her job as a Physician Associate, and she is able to undertake a variety of tasks both on the ward and in the outpatient setting.

Rebecca Southall, Masters of Public Health (MPH) - Health Technology Assessment, 2001 & MPhil, 2011 | Founder and Clinical Lead for ProHealth Counselling Limited

Description
Rebecca is now the founder and clinical lead for a psychotherapy service in Lichfield. She also lectures in psychotherapy and has an active research career.

Ross Maconachie, MSc Health Economics and Health Policy (2014 - Part Time) | Technical Adviser in Health Economics for NICE

Description
The MSc reignited Ross' enthusiasm for learning and enabled him to find a career path to pursue, which has helped with his drive, confidence and peace of mind.

Shamil Haroon, Masters in Public Health (MPH), 2010 | Specialist Registrar in Public Health

Description
Studying the MPH really changed Shamil's perception of the distribution and determinants of population health, which greatly helped develop his practice of public health in the NHS.

Shola Bolaji, MSc Health Economics and Health Policy, Part-time

Description
Shola was impressed by the block-teaching offered on the part time programme as it allowed her to fit the course in with her full-time work commitments.

Taagbara Abaate, Masters of Public Health | Junior Doctor

Description
Taagbara is now a junior doctor at All Souls Hospital in Agege, Lagos within the General Practice Unit.

Yanish Purmah, MD 2020 | Consultant Cardiologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

Description
Yanish Purmah currently works as a Consultant Cardiologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and completed a MD in 2020.