Intern Alumni Champion
Naomi Algeo (Intern 2014)
What are you studying/ what did you study at University?
For my undergraduate degree (prior to the internship), I completed a BSc (Occupational Therapy) at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Following the internship, I completed a Masters in Clinical Research at City, University of London (as funded by the NIHR), and am near completion of my PhD (Occupational Therapy) at Trinity College Dublin.
Why did you apply for the internship?
I was about to graduate from my BSc (Occupational Therapy) from the National University of Ireland, Galway, and I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take at that stage. I knew I wanted to work clinically and gain experience on that front, but this was a perfect opportunity to dip my toes into the research world which I was also curious about.
What was the Project you were involved with when attending the internship scheme?
I applied for the project, '‘The usability of a digital self-management website for people with osteoarthritis: A patient and public involvement study’ under the wonderful supervision of Prof. Jo Adams at the University of Southampton. The project stood out to me immediately for a number of reasons; (i) self-management is a huge area of work for occupational therapists to empower patients to self-manage symptoms of their conditions, (ii) I had some prior experience in exploring e-health initiatives, and (iii) patient and public involvement (PPI) was very much an emerging area in Ireland, and I wanted to learn more about it.
What stood out to you the most as an intern?
The opportunities. I truly believe the internship was a significant stepping stone to me progressing my early research career. For example, I had the opportunity to work alongside leading researchers in the UK, I learned about various research methods, and had the opportunity to visit research sites across the UK. It later led to other opportunities post-internship, such as the publication of my first first-author paper, dissemination opportunities at the British Society of Rheumatology's national conference in 2015 which enhanced my confidence in public speaking, and other opportunities such as being invited as a co-opted systematic reviewer for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.
What skills did the internship equip you with?
Communication skills without a doubt. I gained confidence in public speaking at national level. I refined written communication skills, learned how to write clear and concise reports for dissemination, as well as discovered the art of academic writing. Of course, there were many additional skills developed such as critical appraisal skills and teamwork skills, amongst many others.
Why would you recommend the internship?
The internship not only equipped me with skills as described, but with the confidence to put myself out there. I always say that as a clinician it's not mandatory to carry out research, but it is mandatory to carry out evidence-based practice. So, even if you don't go down the academic route, the skills gained from this internship will absolutely serve you in providing a quality service. At the end of the day, that's what matters, providing quality and evidence-based practice, whether that's been informed by us as researchers, or delivered by us as clinicians. Skillset aside, I also made lifelong friends, many of which I maintain contact with and look forward to meeting again at future Centre alumni events!
What are your achievements since the internship scheme?
Following my internship, I was awarded ‘highly commended’ status for a lay language poster presentation, as voted by Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) members: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sports, Exercise and Osteoarthritis Annual Conference. I was particularly proud of this, as PPI was central to my project and I was keen to develop skills in communicating complex language into an accessible format. From a clinical perspective, I gained experience as an occupational therapist at University College London Hospital, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queens Square, Newham University Hospital, and the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dublin. From a research perspective, I was awarded an NIHR Clinical Academic MRes Studentship, only one of ten to be selected for this prestigious scheme at City, University of London in 2016. More recently, I was awarded a Government of Ireland Postgraduate Doctoral Fellowship from the Irish Research Council at Trinity College Dublin in 2018.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I should (hopefully!) have successfully defended my PhD at Trinity College Dublin, have returned to work clinically again to apply my skills to practice, and I hope to have maintained my connections with the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis. While my career has taken a deviation in that I now work in the field of oncology, I still work in physical rehabilitation and maintain a strong interest in championing self-management skills clinically, and championing research for allied health professionals.