Student Story: Tylah Strauss

Tylah has completed her final year of the online MSc Musculoskeletal Paediatric Health course at Health Sciences University. Tylah previously completed a Masters in Chiropractic and a Homeopathy course in South Africa. She currently works in South Korea as a chiropractor, and was able to fit the online course around her work. We caught up with Tylah to hear more about why she chose the course and how it benefits her as a chiropractor.

What led you to study this course?

“I felt like I needed more paediatric education, knowledge, and experience. I looked into what was available and found people I knew, who had already completed the MSK Paediatric Health course through HSU.

“I contacted them to see what they had got from the course. They felt like it had upped their evidence-based practice skills and also said that the course has a very good theoretical and practical balance, which is what I was looking for. I feel like what is accessible online is purely theoretical. We didn’t really get a good dive into evidence-based practice in South Africa, which is where I previously studied. So, I applied for the course!”

How did you find studying whilst working?

“I fitted the course around my work life as a chiropractor. I think we’re blessed in the sense that if you work for yourself, you can block out sections of time for yourself. You also don’t have to do all of the modules of the course now, like I did, as it could at times become challenging to find enough time to fit it in, including the recommended reading whilst working. I recently completed my dissertation module. My dissertation was on ‘looking at facilitators and barriers for paediatric chiropractic in South Africa.”

How does the online course work?

“For the practical aspect of the course, there were lots of cases and videos on different techniques.

“We had weekly online sessions (synchronous sessions) [where the lecturer and the students in the course engage with the course content and each other at the same time, but from different locations]. The rest of the sessions were asynchronous. I really enjoyed how the different lecturers would try and make it engaging. The sessions were both interesting and useful and they made you feel like you could ask questions and that they were all relevant. They also gave you feedback on those questions.

“The lectures I had were all very engaging and exciting and the lecturers were happy to help and also wanted to help.

“We used Padlet software, with pop-up sessions and things that we could interact with, including emojis. It made it more interesting and fun.”

Did you get to know others on your course?

“Yes, we made a Facebook group when the course started. We also chatted online before the sessions started, or popped a message in the chat when we handed in an assignment or did an exam. Even after the course finished, we still keep in touch.”

What do you feel you achieved from the course?

“The course gave me that sense of confidence and competence in handling different cases. It has also given me a wider scope and some very good research tools, which have enabled me to go and look at the current best literature and apply that to a case.”

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about studying this course?

“I would say that if paediatrics is an area that they want to get into, this is an amazing course. It will help with the theory and the practical aspects of paediatrics as well as make you a better researcher. Be prepared to dedicate a lot of time!”

You can find out more about the MSc Musculoskeletal Paediatric Health course here or by requesting a copy of our latest Prospectus.