Two groups of final-year students from NOVA Medical School's Nutrition Sciences degree undertook a curricular internship at the Mildmay Mission Hospital in London, an institution responsible for rehabilitating patients from three different backgrounds: HIV, detoxification and homelessness.
From the outset, the final-year Nutrition Science students were warmly welcomed by the hospital staff, who provided very diverse and enriching experiences for the students' academic, professional and personal careers.
For ten days, the six students who made up these groups were able to work directly with specialized dieticians, take part in nutritional audits and develop frailty screening protocols, involving professionals from different areas such as physiotherapy, psychology and social work.
In addition, they had the opportunity to take part in multidisciplinary meetings and occupational therapy activities, helping patients to improve their culinary skills for a successful reintegration into society.
For Matilde, one of the participants, "the opportunity to work alongside professionals who are not only experts in their fields, but also passionate about their work was truly invaluable".
Aamilah, another of the participating finalists, also says that the experience left "an indelible mark" on her growth, "becoming an unforgettable chapter" in her journey.
With this experience, carried out as part of their degree in Nutrition Sciences, the university students were able to expand their horizons by acquiring knowledge and skills about nutrition and global health in an international environment.