Profile: Hassib Narchi
Hassib Narchi from the UK studied the MSc Epidemiology: Principles & Practice
"I am a UK consultant paediatrician and joined the distance learning programme when it was first launched in 1999-2000. I was working overseas at that time and distance learning was ideally suited for my needs. Although I have been involved in biomedical research and medical publications for some time, I felt the need to study epidemiology and research methodology in more depth. Studying for the MSc fulfilled my requirements, at my own pace. In the three years spent on the MSc, I worked in two different countries and the distance learning programme allowed me to prepare for the degree in a seamless manner.
It was an eye opener to be able to interact with students from different cultures and professional backgrounds, learning as much from each other as from the tutors, sharing our worries, frustrations, as well as the sense of achievement when the MSc was finally awarded. Not only did I have to learn and understand concepts I thought I knew quite well, but I also had to unlearn some concepts which I initially took for granted, a very humbling but beneficial experience. All topics were covered in depth whilst remaining practical at the same time. In addition to the essential core and advanced modules, the course also allowed a personalised approach in letting me choose subjects to suit my needs. The outbreak exercise was fascinating and fun, trying to go through all the steps of investigating an outbreak with your cyber-colleagues scattered all over the globe! The most exciting part for me was the final project report, for which I studied the factors behind the time changes in UK stomach cancer survival, testing a novel hypothesis on real-life data, quite a challenge.
The course was hard, demanding, but very enjoyable and tremendously beneficial. I now analyse the constant flow of medical literature more critically and efficiently, to the benefit of my patients, and my research skills are constantly improving. With hindsight, would I do the course now? Unequivocally yes and even more, I may even get interested in joining the programme as a tutor."
Steve Hilts also studied studied the MSc Epidemiology: Principles & Practice
