Gareth Hooper currently works at the Oxford Academic Health Science network and is on the Technology Appraisal Committee B at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence after graduating from University of Birmingham with a MSc Health Economics and Health Policy in 2019. 
How did your course help prepare you for your career?
When I applied to the course, I had been in work for 16 years and my career had become a little stale. In completing the course, my knowledge, enthusiasm for work and career opportunities have grown immeasurably.
What attracted you to studying at Birmingham?
The main attraction was the course content. A good blend of highly technical modules alongside broader policy modules to facilitate open conversations about the philosophy of healthcare.
What inspired you most during your time at Birmingham?
Great lecturers especially those who taught statistics. The incredibly diverse colleagues studying the course with me, and the exceptional knowledge and experience they bought with them which inspired me.
What tips/ advice would you give to people who are considering studying your course at Birmingham?
Speak to a lecturer and discuss the course. If you think it's for you, it probably is. But in speaking to someone you will get the idea of just how the course meets the needs of people from a very diverse background.
How would you advise people to make the most of their time on their course?
Network with people you're studying with. Go and teach the content back in your own organisations as that reinforces the content and people benefit by knowing what your skills are developing on the course.
And finally, is there anything else you’d like to share?
The whole campus is amazing. I am now a member of the Sports and Fitness Centre on the campus. This course gave me such a boost in professional and personal life and I love maintaining the connection with University of Birmingham.