Jill Malbon, Physician Associate Studies

“I had some fascinating experiences on placement. I felt glad to have done so much theory before going onto placement, it's a steep learning curve and there is a lot to know and then in the hospitals you rotate around different wards and then have three months of GP at the end.”

Jill is originally from Preston, Lancashire, and first came to the University of Sheffield to study Biomedical Science as an undergrad in 2005. She says, “I didn't really know what I wanted to do but I knew I liked science and the human body, but I always knew I wanted a career in healthcare; I just wasn't quite sure what!”

“I had children and several jobs after my degree and then I came across the PgDip in Physician Associate Studies 11 years later, which looked like a great combination of medicine with a work-life balance. It was an opportunity to build on from my degree and it is a course that led to a career, not just a qualification.”

Physician Associate Studies is a two year course, with the first year focusing on theory and includes lectures, small group teaching, anatomy, clinical skills; and the second year is focussed on placement in a hospital setting and GP.

Jill adds, “I liked the placements where you could do the most practical training which for me were obstetrics, gynae, placement within A&E and GP. I also really enjoyed the paediatrics placement, as we experienced high-quality teaching and they got you heavily involved.”

“I chose Sheffield because I liked the city and the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the people on the Open Day, they seemed to feel extremely proud of the research they did and were incredibly welcoming.”

“The course was very intense - they so prepare you that it can be full-on, and I was quite nervous about going back into full time education after such a gap, but it was the best decision I could have made. I enjoyed the challenge and loved learning again – I feel very proud to have completed the course and secured the job I now have.”

After qualifying from the course as a Physician Associate, Jill is working in the GP practice where she did her original GP placement. 

“I am really enjoying working in general practice, you get to see a huge variety of patients and I like the practice where I work because of their huge support and approach to actively encourage learning. I would eventually like to get involved with the Physician Associate course in the future when I have more experience and developed more skills.”