Jacqui Marcheselli

What were you doing before you came to study at City St George's?

I previously worked in cancer research before moving into cancer services at a London NHS Trust. I took some time out after having my son and picked up a part-time work-from-home administration job in property management.

How did you develop an interest in this subject area and why did you choose to study this course?

Career-wise, I knew I had to find something that really gave me a purpose, a role that helps people. I worked previously in tissue banking, where I met patients diagnosed with cancer during the early part of their treatment pathway to discuss the collection of samples from their planned surgery and blood samples during their chemotherapy cycles.

These samples, with their consent, would be stored in tissue banks for use in current and future cancer research projects. This, combined with my time in cancer services for the NHS, really spurred me on to find something hands-on within the treatment part of the cancer pathway.

I had minimal knowledge of radiotherapy, so I went on a couple of clinical visits. After the first 10 minutes of the first visit, I knew that this role would be perfect for me, and I had to get myself onto a radiotherapy course as soon as possible.

Why did you choose to study at City St George's?

I wanted to be London-based, and City St George’s ranks highly for healthcare courses. The Therapeutic Radiography and Oncology BSc (Hons) was exactly the course I needed to become an excellent Therapeutic Radiographer, with a solid academic knowledge base and clinical experience in multiple hospitals.

What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?

I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed studying the more complex topics we cover – I've enjoyed applying myself to the challenge. I also love the feeling of accomplishment I get, not just when I academically succeed, but the feeling of successfully applying the theory to my experiences in clinical practice.

What is your favourite thing about studying at City St George's?

The location is great, and the facilities are also very good – not just for my specific course, but for the campus as a whole. The online library facilities never fail me; the amount of literature we can access for our course is so helpful.

How have you found the teaching and facilities on your course?

The lecturers are fantastic – they really want you to do well and are very supportive. The team are also very responsive to student feedback and try to implement changes wherever possible as soon as possible. There is a skills team too that are great; they can help with the skills and techniques you need to get your coursework up to higher education standard.

Where have you been on your clinical placements, and what have you enjoyed most about these experiences?

I have been to Southend University Hospital and Queens in Romford. I've learnt a lot from such a variety of staff members and gained invaluable experience from the different equipment used at each site. Each radiotherapy centre isn’t run in the exact same way at each site, so it’s great to gain such varied experience.

How will these experiences help you with your future career?

The variety of experiences between just two hospitals has been essential in developing my skills and confidence. I believe that as I continue to rotate to different sites, I'll continue to build my confidence and become a well-rounded radiographer ready for clinical practice.

What would be your advice to students about to start their first placement experience.

Well, I'd say you could check out the YouTube videos that myself (Therapeutic Radiography) and Tomir (Diagnostic Radiography) are in about placement on the City St George’s channel – we cover a lot of tips that could be helpful! But there's nothing better than simply getting your bag and uniform ready the night before and ensuring you know your route for getting there.

Aim to be there early so you aren't stressed and try your best to be friendly and engaged. Deep breaths, you've got this! Every member of clinical staff has been in your shoes, and they want you to succeed too.

Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?

I juggled a part-time job and childcare during my first year. It certainly was hectic, but I feel so passionate about my career choice that I am spurred on to do my best. My son is in primary school now – this means I must juggle school holidays, and his school also have a half day every Friday. But I always keep communication open with the teaching team and my personal tutor, as they have always supported me with managing parental responsibilities.

What kind of things are you involved in outside of your course?

Did I mention child-rearing? Because that does seem to take up an inordinate amount of time! As a mature student who lives in her own home, there's so much that I'm responsible for that takes up a lot of my time outside of university. When I do get some down time, I love horse riding and taking a nice nap.

What do you plan to do after you graduate, and how has City St George's helped prepare you for this?

In our third year, the university team prepare us for interviews and the application process. We also do oral exams during second year, which also help to prepare us for interviews. I was very sure that I wanted to get straight out into clinical practice, but if there is the opportunity to complete a research MSc, I may go for that first.

What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?

I think this course is very much for people who find purpose in helping others, people who want to make a tangible difference to patients who are experiencing some of the toughest moments in their lives. If this sounds like you, then be sure to make a few clinical visits to radiotherapy centres and see what the day-to-day of this job is really like. This is the best way to find out if this course is right for you.

Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?

My son recently required surgery that necessitated a period of leave from university. First and foremost, with any challenge you are experiencing, honest and open communication is key. Your lecturers want you to succeed but they can't support you if you don't speak with them as soon as a potential challenge appears. This is exactly what I did, and it made the whole process significantly less stressful.

Planning is your next best friend; if you can foresee where the difficulties may arise then plan for what you can and let the rest go. I knew there would be some mocks/deadlines during this period, so I made myself a timetable of earlier personal ‘deadlines’ to relieve some of the pressure. If you are in the midst of a challenge, it's still not too late to reach out to your support network (whether it’s friends, family, or your personal tutor) and make a plan for going forward.