Please briefly describe your clinical/medical experience to date?
I am currently a paediatric registrar in London. I graduated from medical school in Germany in 2017 and have been working as a paediatrician in the UK since 2021. Initially I started out as a clinical fellow in emergency medicine and paediatrics, which helped me to get to know the NHS and I entered paediatric specialty training a year later. I have been working across many different branches of paediatrics, from general paediatrics to tertiary specialist centres focusing on endocrinology and neurology, as well as neonatal intensive care.
What motivated you to enter paediatric care in the first place?
Becoming a paediatrician has been my dream for as long as I can remember! Children in Germany do not usually go to the GP, they are often seen by paediatricians in Primary Care. Whenever I had to go for my checks and vaccines I was fascinated by my paediatrician’s knowledge, kindness and interesting looking equipment lying around…the sweets on the desk might have also played a part in it. Anyhow, I thought “That’s who I want to be, when I grow up!”. And here we are! I enjoy working with children so much, they are fun and inquisitive and a lot stronger than people give them credit for. I find medicine fascinating, but whenever I have been working with children, it is so much more joyful and rewarding, which just confirms that I have found the right specialty for me.
How will the funding from The Evie Dove Foundation help you to advance your career and your impact/services to children?
The funding from The Evie Dove Foundation will support my studies for a MSc in Health Data Analytics and Machine Learning. The degree will train me in machine learning, computational epidemiology, and clinical data management, equipping me to work with large and diverse datasets — often called “big data.” I am interested in advancing the use of technology within the NHS and I am aiming to be part of the drive to use AI and Machine Learning tools to benefit Children’s Health by facilitating better collection and analysis of data and implementing changes that will benefit as many children as possible. My big dream would be to use my skills to support the creation of policies that tackle child health inequality, giving all children a chance to thrive.
How did you find out about The Evie Dove Foundation?
A few of my lovely colleagues shared how The Evie Dove Foundation has supported other paediatricians through incredible opportunities.
Tell us about yourself!
I grew up in Berlin and the south of Germany, and moved to the UK in 2020. I have been living in London ever since. I enjoy the bustle of a big city and discovering new cuisines, hobbies and art! Having so many options, I found my favourite hobbies here: I enjoy twirling at a roller disco, hanging upside down in aerial silks and and the thrill of climbing. I have also found some more relaxing hobbies, such as sewing or playing interesting boardgames with friends. My favourite museums are the V&A and the Wallace Collection, their exhibitions are always so exciting.
Anything else you would like to tell us about your experience, future aspirations and motivations?
Through my paediatric training I have seen not only some of the happier moments, but also some of the most devastating ones families can go through. I have seen children go through struggles they should not have to. Working with children is one of the most rewarding experiences you can imagine and I am so excited that The Evie Dove Foundation is helping me to contribute to the science of Children’s Health on a larger scale.
