September 2012′s Graduate Profile of the Month is Dominic Townsend. Dominic graduated, in 2011 with a BSc(Hons)in Sport and Exercise Science. He is now a Healthcare Assistant (Acute Stroke and Neurology ward) for the NHS. 
Where are you now?
Upon leaving university I have concentrated all my efforts on chasing my dream of a career in Medicine. This year I have studied AS and A2 level Chemistry concurrently whilst working full time as a Healthcare Assistant on an Acute Stroke and Neurology ward. I have really enjoyed working with the patients and am amazed by their resilience and humour especially when faced with such debilitating illness. This has been a huge learning curve and I have now been fortunate to secure offers for Graduate Entry Medicine courses.
How did you get there?
Gaining a place at medical school has involved a lot of hard work, perseverance and determination. Leading up to this decision I had been lucky, through Loughborough’s invaluable relationships within the sporting world, to be selected for a placement year as a Sport Scientist for the first team medical department at Chelsea Football Club. This year provided me with day to day contact with the Medical Director and helped me to identify that my own overriding interest and passion lay ultimately with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of injuries.
Through persistence I managed to secure several volunteering opportunities in a number of hospitals, a care home, a special needs school and also a children’s hospice run by Shooting Star CHASE. I also sourced a number of work shadow placements in specialties that included A&E, Orthopaedics, Oncology and General Practice. I was really encouraged and excited by what I experienced and it made me even more determined to pursue my goal of becoming a doctor.
