NOVA Medical School and Mildmay Hospital are celebrating five years of academic partnership, an international collaboration that brings academic training closer to clinical practice. The recent renewal of the agreement for an additional five years reinforces the continuity of this initiative and its contribution to preparing Nutrition Sciences students in an international clinical setting.
Since 2022, students from NOVA Medical School have undertaken clinical placements at Mildmay Hospital in London, joining multidisciplinary teams in a specialized context focused on HIV, rehabilitation, and support for vulnerable populations. This experience allows students to apply scientific knowledge in a clinical environment, while developing essential technical, interpersonal, and intercultural skills for professional practice.
Over this period, the 33 students who have benefited from this partnership have actively contributed to clinical audit projects, service evaluation, and applied research in areas such as nutritional status in populations with complex needs, food security, and quality of care. Part of this work has been presented at international scientific forums, including the symposium of the British Dietetic Association, with abstracts published in specialized journals.
The partnership originated from a shared vision between Professor Filomena Gomes (NOVA Medical School) and Dr. Kattya Mayre-Chilton (nutritionist at Mildmay Hospital).
"When I was a final-year student, I completed an international placement that shaped my global career. I have worked in five countries. I want my students to have the same opportunity — and this partnership makes that possible," explains Professor Filomena.
This collaboration has also had a significant impact on graduates’ career paths. Over the past five years, students who took part in this experience have gone on to work in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, in research at NOVA Medical School, at the European Food Safety Authority, and in companies such as Nestlé — as well as pursuing master’s degrees and medical studies at European universities.
"This partnership offers a unique opportunity for students to engage with diverse clinical realities, while contributing to their academic and professional development," highlights Professor Marta Silvestre, faculty member at NOVA Medical School.