F2F
FACE TO FACE Ursula meets: Ursula Arens Writer; Nutrition & Dietetics Ursula has a degree in dietetics, and currently works as a freelance nutrition writer. She has been a columnist on nutrition for more than 30 years.
This month, Ursula meets an inspiring young dietitian with a story to tell . . . LONG LI Acute Services Dietitian BDA Yorkshire Branch PR Officer
Long Li had a few hours to spare, student status and so travel was booked between attending the BDA Live and farewell parties planned. But on conference in London and getting the the morning of travel, the postman train back to Leeds. Kings Cross was still shrugged his shoulders: there was the perfect place to find a warm quiet nothing. The last-chance saloon was the corner for a chat. But it was after-work airport postal sorting centre. Long said hours: every café and bar was loud and that postal staff made every attempt to packed. We walked past the quiet oasis be helpful, but nothing could be found of a shiny office reception area full of in the many systems they checked. But comfortable seats and we both had the then there was a ‘moment of magic’: same thought: surely Google HQ would someone pulled a random letter from not mind us having a huge pile, and this a little sit-down? was his essential visa But security staff “I used to be overweight, document. “I then had suggested perhaps not, but managed to get down less than an hour before so we had to squeeze the flight,” said Long. to a normal weight when The first term on the into a loud and packed I was a student. restaurant after all. MSc course ‘Nutrition, Long comes from Obesity and Health’ From then on I have Southwest China and was a steep uphill always been very completed an underchallenge. Of course, interested in foods graduate degree in language and cultural and health.” Pharmacy. Work for differences were full his degree was difficult of confusions for him. and required non-stop But further, the course seven days a week commitment. When was more maths and statistics and less some student friends began planning nutrition and health than he had been post-graduate education abroad, Long expecting. His project was analysis of thought ‘Me Too’ (without the #). A one- data from the government low-income year Master’s degree in Nutrition at Leeds diet survey and his results showed University seemed the perfect choice. that attitudes to health rather than But there were some obstacles, of cookery skills were a better predictor course. Firstly he would need to pass of diet quality. In hindsight, he now English Language assessment tests. appreciates the skills he acquired Months of intense tuition allowed him to in epidemiology and research pass all aspects, except for verbal skills, interpretation, even if this had not which required some further polish in been his initial plan. the UK. Secondly, he needed a student So, why did he choose Nutrition? visa. Leeds University confirmed his “I used to be overweight, but managed www.NHDmag.com May 2018 - Issue 134
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F2F
While a student, Long joined the BDA Yorkshire Branch committee, where he currently champions all aspects of PR and communication. to get down to a normal weight when I was a student. From then on I have always been very interested in foods and health.” Long was not able to find a job, but kept busy with various volunteer projects, including supporting data analysis for research on childhood obesity. He had now encountered a few dietitians and thought it sounded a wonderful job. But getting onto a dietetic course was competitive. “Try some work shadowing,” someone advised. Long managed to find a dietitian who allowed him a day of professional insights and he was amazed. “I realised it was the perfect job.” So to whoever that inspiring dietitian is, a big “thank you”. Long started the two-year post graduate diploma in Dietetics at Leeds Beckett University and qualified in January 2016. His first and current job is as Acute Services Dietitian with the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. “I really enjoy the many challenges of the job. In particular, I have come to appreciate the importance of research and its application in practice. I am sure I will get more involved in research in my future career,” said Long. He really enjoys being part of the multidisciplinary team, but has some concerns that the many skills of a dietitian are not fully appreciated by medical colleagues (as they should be.) “Why?” I asked. There was not an easy answer, but we agreed it might be because interventions from other professionals in an acute setting could have immediate observable and measurable effects; dietetic interventions contribute significantly to those effects, directly or indirectly, but may be less recognised or
overlooked by medical colleagues. This is why it is so important for dietitians to prove effective outcomes. Long made a comment on how upset he was when a friend had not realised that dietitians had a science qualification. While a student, Long joined the BDA Yorkshire Branch committee, where he currently champions all aspects of PR and communication. The Yorkshire Branch has offered a particularly successful parade of member events and meetings and deservedly won the BDA ‘Branch of the Year’ award last year: perhaps Long can take some small credit for this. “We opened meetings up to nutritionists and other healthcare professionals, so attendance has been excellent,” said Long. Long is an unusual UK dietitian on two counts (Chinese national and male). But more so, he is an unusual interviewee. Rather than listing achievements, he seemed careful to state any weakness or failing: he is not a Pharmacist, because he did not complete his practical year; he failed the verbal skills section of the English Test in China; he had trouble finding employment after obtaining his MSc. Another unusual aspect of Long as an interviewee, was how he made me break the first rule of doing interviews: don’t talk about yourself! Yes, Long is modest about his amazing achievements and is a great listener. And perhaps being modest and being a great listener describe two typical-dietitian traits. Long is sure to enjoy a great future career in the dietetic profession, but I feel he will always have the unfair advantage of ‘moments of magic’. I am smitten.
If you would like to suggest a F2F date (someone who is a ‘mover and shaker’ in UK nutrition) for Ursula, please contact: info@networkhealthgroup.co.uk 10
www.NHDmag.com May 2018 - Issue 134
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