Daniel studied BSc Physiotherapy, graduating in 2021. He is now working as a First Team Junior Physiotherapist at Hull City Football Club. In this blog, he tells us what he enjoyed about his course at Leeds Beckett and how it helped him achieve his amazing career in health.

Courses: BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you've been doing since you graduated.

I completed my BSc in Physiotherapy in 2021 after previously completing another BSc in Sport and Exercise Science in 2018. Sport and healthcare have always been my passions, so choosing Physiotherapy allowed me to integrate those important aspects of my life into a lifelong career.

As a student I started volunteering within non-league football clubs for valuable sporting experience to then becoming Head Physiotherapist at Alfreton Town F.C. within the first year of graduating.

From there, networking resulted in me working as an assistant within the First Team at Mansfield Town F.C. before taking on the Head of Academy Medicine role at Mansfield a year later. While here, I completed my part time MSc in Sport and Exercise Medicine (also at Leeds Beckett) to further progress professionally.

Alongside this, I obtained my Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football (ATMMIF) certification from the FA, allowing me to work pitch-side within the English Football League (EFL). These were key factors in how I successfully landed my current role as a First Team Junior Physiotherapist at Hull City Football Club, at the start of this season.

Tell us a bit more about your current role and why it's amazing.

My current role involves me working day-to-day with the First Team players at Hull City. Providing assessment and treatment pre and post training and match days. This includes utilising skills in sports massage, taping, joint mobilisations, and more.

I also have the responsibility of leading on injured players' rehabilitation, fully designing and implementing both gym and on-field based sessions. In addition, I travel to games (home and away) during the season providing pitch-side emergency medical cover during Championship, FA Cup and Carabao Cup games (occasionally appearing on TV).

This has allowed me to have exceptional experiences working around the country and even abroad, contributing to the success of elite professional athletes. Such moments make this a dream role for me at this stage in my career and it's been a true privilege.

How did your course at Leeds Beckett help you get to where you are today?

The anatomy and physiology modules within the course were pivotal in developing a foundation of knowledge that was then bolstered during my MSK outpatients placement. This allowed me to consolidate my knowledge through real world application.

Studying during the COVID-19 pandemic gave me a unique student experience that has helped shape my perspective and outlook on the profession. Working on the frontline on COVID wards gave me an immense appreciation for the importance of physiotherapy skills within healthcare.

From this, I developed vital soft skills of compassion, dignity and respect, which are non-negotiable characteristics that I continue to provide within my personal and professional life.

What support or opportunities did you receive at Leeds Beckett that have helped shaped your career?

Leeds Beckett was an excellent place to study and develop from a student to a new graduate Physiotherapist. The incredible facilities at the City Campus provide a fantastic place to learn and grow as a student.

The lecturers are fantastic at preparing you for placements and exams, through practicing assessment scenarios to helping develop a deeper understanding of the learning resources through one-to-one support.

There were many fascinating guest lecturers and incredible links with many integral charities and sports teams within the Leeds and Yorkshire area.

My time at Leeds Beckett gave me the confidence to strive for challenging professional goals after graduating and is an important factor in where I'm now at in my career.

Can you tell us about a project, piece of work or experience from university that you're proud of?

During my Physiotherapy degree, I became interested in the impact of concussions, following on from guest speakers discussing brain injury during the neurology module. This culminated in me completing my MSc dissertation on the topic.

With the increased spotlight that concussion has gotten recently within sport, it remains a key area of interest within my profession that I continue to study. Ultimately, aiming to make a difference to concussion management first-hand within football.

What would you say to someone considering studying your course?

If caring for people is at your core, then Physiotherapy may be a perfect fit for you. Physiotherapy is a diverse career, in which you will be continually challenged, inspired and humbled by in equal measure. It's a profession where you never stop being a student.

From helping someone to learn how to walk again following a stroke, to making lifesaving respiratory interventions on severely ill patients, or like me, helping athletes return to an elite level of performance.

Whichever path you choose, it's incredibly rewarding and you will not regret it.

What's next for you?

As a student I set myself a goal of becoming a Premier League Physiotherapist at some point in my career. All the decisions I have made professionally have been geared around striving towards that goal, so hopefully I can achieve this target soon and continue to improve and progress as a Physiotherapist.

Later on in my career I would like to share my knowledge and experiences with future physiotherapists to help shape the next generation within this fantastic profession.