London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Hi, I'm Adhishree, and I completed the MSc in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research from 2023-24. I was an intercalating student at the time, so I was undertaking the master's between my penultimate and final years at medical school.

What motivated you to study MSc Reproductive & Sexual Health Research?

Throughout my time at medical school (and even before that), I'd been fascinated by global health, particularly in relation to women's and sexual health. I had been exposed to these areas rather sporadically during medical school, and was keen to gain more in-depth experience of the field from a public health and research perspective to complement my clinical training.

I'm hoping the knowledge and skills that I've gained from the master's will help me become a more well-rounded clinician and academic!

What were your favourite memories from your studies with us?

There are honestly so many to choose from! I think an early memory that stands out is during our welcome week when we took a trip to Greenwich as a cohort. It was such a lovely opportunity to get to know the rest of the cohort and course directors.

Did you have a favourite module?

One of the standout modules for me was Population Studies. Most of my previous work had focused on health at the individual level; clinical outcomes, personal risk factors, and patient-level experiences; so, stepping back and looking at health from a more population-wide perspective felt like opening a completely different window into the field. I loved getting to grips with the "big picture": population trends, fertility and mortality patterns, and how all of these shape public health in ways you don't always appreciate when you're only zoomed in on individuals. The module really pushed me to think more broadly and gave me a deeper, more grounded understanding of the forces that drive population change.

Another favourite was the Sexual Health module. It covered such a wide range of topics that I came away with a richer, more confident understanding of the field. The teaching brought together everything from STIs to contraception to the social and structural factors that shape sexual health outcomes. What really stayed with me, though, was the time we spent on abortion care. That part of the module sparked a particular interest for me, enough that it's something I’m hoping to pursue further in my future work and clinical practice.

Why do you think it was beneficial to study at LSTHM for your course?

I think one of the many benefits of studying at LSHTM is its global student body. I don't think you could go to any other university and meet such a variety of wonderful people from all corners of the globe.

On a more personal note, it was wonderful to return to my hometown of London after spending a few years away in the East of England for medical school. It was a great opportunity for me to be at home with my family for the year and spend time in my favourite city!

Tell us more about your summer project.

I had the privilege of working in collaboration with UNFPA ESARO (East and Southern Africa Regional Office) on my summer project. I conducted a mixed-methods study looking into the effects of climate change and extreme weather on child marriage. The first part of the project was a systematic review looking into the global evidence base on the topic, while the second part involved conducting interviews with stakeholders in the East and Southern Africa region. I was keen to work on something less clinically focused, and was drawn to this concept as it was something completely new to me.

I want to extend a huge thank you to my supervisors Dr Meghna Ranganathan and Professor Susannah Mayhew, for all their support and guidance on this project and beyond!

Tell us a bit about your career so far.

After completing the master's programme, I went back to graduate from medical school in the summer of 2025, and have since been working full-time as a resident doctor in the NHS. I'm currently in the midst of my foundation training, where I'll be rotating through six different specialities/departments over the course of two years. At the time of writing this, I'm on my Acute Internal Medicine rotation, so work is slightly hectic at the moment, to say the least! Following my foundation training, I’ll be applying to specialty training. I'm currently undecided about what exactly, but definitely something reproductive and sexual health related!

How do you feel the MSc has complemented your medical training?

My MSc has complemented my medical training in a really meaningful way. I've gained a broader appreciation of the wider forces that shape people's health, like policy, demographics, structural inequities, and population-level trends. It's helped me step back from the individual patient in front of me, think about the bigger picture they're part of and evaluate how best to approach patient care, all things considered. I already feel like a more well-rounded clinician because of it. On top of that, the research skills I've gained, from study design to critical appraisal and analysing data, have been incredibly valuable. They've made me much more confident in interpreting evidence and contributed to a stronger foundation for any future academic or clinical research I want to pursue.

You've been up to some interesting work with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service since completing your studies - tell us more about that.

I've had the pleasure of working with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on an evaluation study looking into the safety and effectiveness of conscious sedation for surgical abortion procedures. I've recently had the privilege of presenting some findings from this project at the British Society of Abortion Care Providers conference. This project has been a wonderful opportunity to put into practice the skills I gained at LSHTM, including qualitative and quantitative analysis as well as academic writing.

I wanted to say a massive thank you to Rebecca Blaylock, who was my seminar lead for the Sexual Health module during the MSc, for all her support in helping me get this opportunity to work with BPAS!

What would your advice be to prospective students considering the programme?

My main advice to prospective students would be to really seize every opportunity the programme offers. There's so much to get involved in, both academically and socially, and the year goes by faster than you expect. Make the most of the teaching and the incredible faculty - they are experts in their fields and are so generous with their time and knowledge.

Just as importantly, make the most of your peers. One of the best parts of the programme is being surrounded by people from such diverse backgrounds and experiences. I learned just as much from conversations with classmates as I did from lectures, and those relationships were a huge part of what made the programme special.

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