Diabetes MSc alumni interview: Laura Lovell
Laura Lovell shares her experience of studying the part-time, distance-learning Diabetes MSc at Leicester Diabetes Centre and how it has benefited her professional development.
Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health challenges worldwide. This global epidemic demands highly skilled healthcare professionals who can deliver evidence-based, patient-centred care.
The part-time, distance-learning Diabetes MSc at the University of Leicester gives you the chance to specialise in diabetes care through flexible, world-class learning. Aimed at qualified healthcare professionals with relevant experience in diabetes, the course helps learners to improve outcomes in patient care and progress their career. It is ideal for those who want to become a specialist in diabetes care while continuing their professional role.
Laura Lovell is one of many alumni who have flourished after learning at the world-renowned Leicester Diabetes Centre. After graduating in December 2020, she now works as a Private Practice Primary Care Physician at Lovell Medical in Barbados.
We spoke to Laura about her experience of the Diabetes MSc and how it has benefited her professional development.
What motivated you to enrol on the MSc Diabetes (DL) programme, and how does it align with your career goals?
“I enrolled in the MSc Diabetes (DL) programme to enhance my skills as a GP with a special interest in diabetes. It was the perfect blend of primary care and inpatient knowledge with modules that I believed applied to my daily practice. I was already working at a multidisciplinary diabetes centre and the modules on self-management and technology provided knowledge that I was able to use right away by implementing best practice in my clinical work.”
How did you find the experience of studying this course alongside your other commitments?
“I started the course shortly after the birth of my first son and while it was challenging at first to find the balance with work, school and new motherhood, it was quite doable. The ease of application of the coursework to my clinical practice made the course effortless and far from abstract, easing the balance with everything.”
What are the most valuable skills or insights you’ve gained from the programme?
“Aside from theoretical knowledge of diabetes care, I think the course unexpectedly also provided insights into clinical research within the field of diabetes medicine. I was blessed to have the wonderful Dr Alison Dunkley and Dr Clare Gillies who mentored me in research, enabling me to publish my first primary-authored peer-reviewed manuscript within the programme.”
How has the course influenced your professional development or clinical practice so far?
“The research I started at Leicester has propelled me to subsequently enroll in a PhD programme using the skills first cultivated in the MSc diabetes programme. I also now understand self-management and technology in a way not provided by my clinical practice alone or by any resources locally available to me. The programme has helped me take a step up in the field of diabetes management and provided me with the framework to continue a primary care diabetes career.”
What would you say to someone considering applying for this course?
“Definitely apply if you are considering clinical diabetes practice or research as it provides a good background for both. The academic staff were very supportive and, although it is distance learning, I believe the programme provided ample material and learning resources whilst allowing the flexibility to manage work and family commitments.”
For more information about the part-time, distance learning MSc in Diabetes at the University of Leicester, including the course structure, entry requirements, and fees, visit the course webpage. Applications for April 2027 entry close on 22 March 2027.
Laura Lovell
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