I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Health Data Science at the University of Birmingham. I am a qualified midwife working with the NHS. My passion for improving maternity care through data-driven approaches led me to this course, which combines my clinical expertise with the analytical skills necessary to drive improvements in maternal and fetal outcomes.
The AI and Data Science Scholarship has been a lifeline for me throughout this journey. The £10,000 scholarship made a huge difference, particularly because it was given as a cash payment. This flexibility allowed me to manage various financial responsibilities. A significant portion of the funds went towards childcare, which was essential as I balanced studying while caring for my baby. Additionally, the money helped cover the cost of my daily train travel from Northampton to Birmingham and enabled me to reduce my working hours, giving me more time to focus on my coursework. It also helped me manage personal expenses and maintain some stability during this intense period. Without this financial support, I wouldn’t have been able to fully commit to the course and excel in my studies. I am fully appreciative of this scholarship, it has really contributed to the intense commitment to excelling in this program as it made me feel that someone believed in my abilities and supported me financially to achieve my goals.
The course has been an incredible journey, covering a wide range of topics such as machine learning, statistical modeling, health informatics, and the governance of health data. I have gained hands-on experience using Python and R for data analysis, built predictive models, and explored complex health data. One of the most valuable aspects has been understanding how data can be leveraged to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. The modules have provided me with the technical expertise and critical thinking skills needed to bridge the gap between clinical practice and data science.
My motivation for pursuing this course was to enhance my knowledge of data science and apply it within maternity care. Balancing my studies with work and family life has been challenging but incredibly rewarding. I started the course with a young baby, who is now 15 months old, which made managing my time a real challenge. Despite this, I’ve enjoyed every part of the learning experience. Traveling from Northampton to Birmingham almost every day from Monday to Friday was demanding, but being part of a diverse and supportive learning community kept me motivated. I’ve also had the opportunity to apply the skills I’ve gained through real-world projects, including developing machine learning models to predict clinical outcomes.
Looking ahead, I plan to use the skills I’ve gained to drive innovation in maternity care through data-driven insights. My aim is to develop predictive models that can improve maternal and fetal health outcomes by identifying high-risk cases earlier and enabling targeted interventions. I am also passionate about contributing to digital transformation in maternity care, ensuring that electronic patient records (EPR) are used effectively to enhance clinical decision-making. This course has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to take on roles where I can make a meaningful impact in healthcare, and I am excited to continue this journey.