Welcome to the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
In the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS), we’re a family of bioscientists, healthcare professionals, psychologists and vets. But, most importantly, we’re human.
This year has been unlike any we’ve experienced, but by leaning on one another, we’ve got through it. As a new member of our family, we’ll be by your side, supporting you through every step of your journey, giving you guidance and helping you achieve your goals.
A big hello!
See some of our favourite snaps from the year and read more about what we've been up to.
Helping those in need
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of our students and staff have been volunteering out in the community, helping wherever they can:
- Veterinary medicine student Hannah Whitelegg has been volunteering at NHS Nightingale Hospital London, caring for patients, carrying out basic procedures, and assisting with daily tasks for both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients.
- Emma Wise, Research Fellow in Virology, has been supporting the NHS with coronavirus testing at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
- Biosciences and medicine PhD students Diana Dakik and Shannon Leetham have been working in a Covid-19 Lighthouse Laboratory, helping test 30,000 samples each day, taken from the throat and nose of individuals with suspected Covid-19.
"You end your shift with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that every test you’ve processed will give someone an answer." - Diana Dakik, Biosciences and Medicine PhD student
Researching the things that matter
Our researchers are helping improve the health and wellbeing of humans and animals. Some of our highlights this year have been:
- Our PetHack2020, a virtual hackathon, to propose and accelerate innovative solutions to monitoring, diagnosing and controlling Covid-19’s impact on the animal health community and industry.
- Investigating the psychological impact of social isolation in harsh environments, to explore how we could survive on the Moon and have successful habitats there in the future.
- Helping develop new guidelines to support healthcare professionals to deliver high-quality care for frail, older people, as they move towards the end of their lives.
- Sharing our top tips when it comes to finding alternatives to everyday ingredients, including how to make yoghurt at home.
"It’s important to learn as much as possible about the psychological impact of living in harsh environments, so we can develop coping mechanisms to overcome any difficulties." - Dr Patrice Rusconi, Lecturer in Psychology
Celebrating our successes
We’re always keen to reflect on our memorable moments, and this year has been no different:
- We went digital for our summer graduation ceremonies, dressing to impress and leaving messages for our new alumni.
- We’ve been celebrating the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife 2020, by asking our nurses and midwives to share their stories, finding out why they chose their careers and what inspired them to help others.
"I became a midwife to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable women and children, after volunteering in a home set up by Mother Theresa." - Dr Alison Callwood, Lecturer in Integrated Care (Midwifery)
Looking to the future
There you have it – a whistle-stop tour of FHMS! We’re so pleased you’ve joined us and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you. Welcome to the family.
