Sports and Exercise Medicine MSc - Gbemisola's Story

Please tell us about your current role and employer:

I’m working as a First Contact Physiotherapist based in a GP surgery. Shortly after accepting the job, I also joined West Bromwich Albion Football Club as an academy Physiotherapist where I support the academy team. It is interesting seeing the training sessions and the games. I have done few short courses during my career so far and I have just been accepted into the NHS Leadership Academy.

What does a typical day in your current role look like?

I oversee patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as back, shoulder or knee pain. I provide advice and guidance to help people self-manage their pain. I can also refer people for further tests or consultations as needed and I’m currently training to issue people with injections. I really enjoy my job – it’s varied and although the symptoms can be similar, the causes are always different.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Birmingham?

I decided to study internationally to see how the practice of physiotherapy differed between countries and find more opportunities for myself. I researched the University of Birmingham and was really interested in my findings. I loved the fact they had an affiliation with several football clubs. The University is prestigious, and I really liked the course offerings.

How do you feel the learning experience on your course helped to prepare you for your career?

The lecturers were fantastic. I’d studied for an BSc in Physiotherapy before joining the University of Birmingham and had some prior experience in the field. UOB helped me to hone my skills. I looked at a range of different musculoskeletal injuries and different rehabilitation pathways. I also developed my leadership skills when I became a Student Rep. I’ve just been selected for a leadership course at work, so the University helped give me lots of opportunities!

What was your biggest achievement during your course (personal, professional or academic)?

I really enjoyed being a Student Rep. I also did an internship as part of the course where I worked at West Bromwich Albion Football Club as part of the academy.

What are your top tips for students graduating today?

Take advantage of every opportunity you can! Even if you face setbacks, you’ll build new skills and develop your resilience. This has really helped me. It’s also so important to network – I got my job with WBA FC because I kept in touch with staff after finishing my internship. Networking was crucial and helped me get my foot in the door.