Audrey’s Story

Transferable skills, adaptability and commitment. 

From Military service to the intricacies of Medical Research.  

I joined the Royal Air Force in 1998 as a Medical Assistant. Over 15 years, my role evolved into Helicopter Paramedic, where I faced the challenge of four tours in Iraq, five in Afghanistan, and a deployment in Kosovo on the Medical Emergency Response Team. My journey took an unexpected turn after I was injured in Afghanistan and honourably discharged from the Military. 

When I had to adapt to civilian life, I’d looked at a lot of non-medical roles before I found my calling at UHS. I worked as a Ward Secretary, Admin Manager, and Office Manager and discovered my experience in the Military meant I was able to adapt quickly.  

My role as Office Manager oversees Southampton Academy of Research (SOAR) responsibilities and supports the Research Leaders Programme (RLP). I came into that role without knowledge, and it was a massive learning curve. It's fulfilling to provide support, connect colleagues with experienced mentors, and offer training and guidance to address their needs. As the programme progresses, we hope that participants will have generated enough income from various research projects and grants funded by the programme to sustain their own research time.

As well as this, I’m currently the Co-Chair of the UHS Armed Forces Network. The network welcomes all UHS staff to join either as a serving member, veteran, reservist, from an Armed Forces family or as an ally. If you’re considering a career at UHS, you’ll need adaptability, openness to change, and a willingness to contribute to the team. My very wise Military Commander once said, “Legacy is not what you leave for them, it’s what you leave in them”. 

Mitzi’s Story

Resilience, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence.

A leap of faith that led to a long and fulfilling career. 

I was in one of the first Filipino nursing cohorts to come over to UHS back in 2000. With its location and accessibility, it felt like a bigger hospital with a lot of opportunities. The feedback I received from the panels before the interview was very good, and they made me feel welcome. That's what really stuck with me.

Coming from a smaller hospital in the Philippines, I initially worried about my experience. However, UHS operates on fairness and parity principles. I felt included, was offered the same clinical placement, and received training that expanded my expertise.

Language was a barrier, but being honest with the team about what I was comfortable with and willing to try, with feedback for improvement, helped me become a better and safer practitioner. If you're keen to progress and develop, you don't have to wait for opportunities - you can seek them out personally.

I started as a Band 3 Overseas Nurse and then became a Matron. My own Matron, Wendy, believed in me and backed me. She used to say, “You can do it. Why don't you try doing this?”, that really paved the way for my career.

I’ve now been here over 20 years. The reason I stayed here, apart from the opportunities, is the work life balance. UHS feels like a second family, and the values align with my own, focusing on putting patients first and developing the team to provide safe and effective care.