Andrew Bennett
Meet Andrew. He chose to complete his master’s degree at Herts because of the University’s excellent reputation and flexible programmes. In under a decade, he became the National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal at NHS England.
| Current job | National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal at NHS England and a Consultant Physiotherapist for Sutton Health and Care, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust |
|---|---|
| Year of graduation | 2013 |
| Course of study | MSc Advanced Physiotherapy (Neuromusculoskeletal) |
Flexible learning
The University’s MSc Advanced Physiotherapy (Neuromusculoskeletal) programme offered Andrew the ability to develop advanced practice skills as a physiotherapist and become a member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP). Andrew says, ‘I wanted to do the course part-time, but I also had a family to look after. The course and university had an excellent reputation, and the flexibility of the degree allowed me to balance my home life with professional and academic pursuits.’
Andrew was already a clinician in the NHS and the course allowed him to reflect on his experience so far, which is the part of the course he enjoyed the most. Andrew says, ‘The course was challenging, and I wouldn’t be at the level I am now without completing it. I also developed vital transferable skills, such as time management and the ability to critically think at a master’s level, which I continue to rely on to this day.’
Andrew fondly remembers spending many hours in our Learning Resources Centres during his studies and is still in touch with many people he met on the course.
From Herts to leading musculoskeletal services in England
After graduating, Andrew completed his training to be an advanced practitioner within Barts Health and then became a Consultant Physiotherapist within Sutton Community services in Southwest London in 2019. He then became the National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal at NHS England, where he provides clinical leadership, advice, and support across the country’s NHS musculoskeletal services.
Andrew’s advice to future postgraduate students is to, ‘understand your motivations. If you are going to commit your time and money, then you need to be clear about what your personal aims and objectives are. Then you can figure out the logistics of how you will complete your course.’