Áine Barron
Before choosing her path to physiotherapy at Portobello Institute, Áine Barron studied exercise physiology, completing her undergraduate degree and interning in a clinical setting.
During her work placement she noticed a growing curiosity about the role of physiotherapists that sparked a shift in her focus.
“I was interning in an exercise physiology and physiotherapy clinic and planning to pursue a masters in exercise physiology.
“While I was enjoying my internship and continued to work there for another year, I started to notice I was more interested in what the physios were doing versus the exercise physiologists.
“I noticed I was picking up on things they did and implementing it in clinic and pitch side while doing S&C work. While I was enjoying what I was doing, I knew I could do more and that I wasn’t 100% passionate about coaching and exercise physiology being my future career,” she said.
This pivotal realisation led her to understand that her desire to provide direct, first-response care to patients was a stronger pull than her initial career plans. She followed this instinct and enrolled in Portobello Institute’s MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration).
“Studying was the right thing to do for me as I knew I wanted to be a first response for patients in clinic as opposed to a transition to independent exercise as that was how this clinic was set up. I knew I could provide more to my clients in the clinic and in the gym where I was coaching,” she said.
The Right Choice: Portobello Institute’s Flexible Approach
When choosing where to study next, Portobello Institute stood out, primarily due to its commitment to flexibility and practical application of knowledge, which was crucial for someone keen to continue gaining work experience alongside her studies.
“I did my research and found that Portobello was the option that was going to give me the best chance at developing my work skills at the same time as it is so flexible.
“Having come straight from undergrad and only having experience in one clinic, being able to keep my clinic hours and see coaching clients 1:1 while studying physio gave me the best balance of learning theory and applying my knowledge all at the same time.
“The flexibility gave me the option to feel like I didn’t rush into a master’s due to my lack of work experience in the field.
“I would describe my time as a student in Portobello as enjoyable and challenging. The content of the course is sufficiently challenging without being completely overwhelming.
“All the lecturers being so approachable and really willing to help has made my experience so enjoyable as you can tell they do want everyone to succeed and become great physios.
“The overall flexibility is the best thing about studying in Portobello in my opinion.
“Regarding the timetable, being able to still work while studying is a great bonus to be able to fully apply principles that are being taught.
“In terms of the content, all the lecturers are very approachable which has meant that they are open to hearing the student’s opinion and adjusting the teaching strategy/module delivery where possible to make sure each student in accommodated and listened to.
“I found the teaching style in Portobello a lot more student focused which I have found to be a lot more beneficial than that of my undergrad,” she said.
Gaining Invaluable Work Experience
Portobello Institute’s emphasis on work placement and internships proved instrumental in preparing Áine for her future career. Her experiences, including working with Siel Blue and completing the online Health Academy, provided practical insights and strengthened key skills.
“While in Siel Blue, I worked in a variety of nursing homes and support groups. Having already had a good base of experience teaching group fitness classes I was able to tailor my approach to the specific condition at hand and look at the current research surrounding exercise guidelines for these conditions.
“I was also given the opportunity to deliver a presentation on muscular dystrophy and recommended exercise to the management team which was a great opportunity to challenge myself and complete some structured independent research to help Siel Blue understand if they wanted to obtain a partnership with MD Ireland.
“The Health Academy placement prepared me well for my future career as it gave me the opportunity to delve into the research on common neurological conditions which I would not have had the time or opportunity to do in a normal teaching semester. It also really strengthened by subjective assessment skills,” she said.
A Future Focused on Specialisation
Áine is looking forward to her second year of studying on the MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) programme and hopes to go on and specialise in areas of particular interest to her.
“After graduation, my goal is to specialise in either neuro or paediatrics and apply all the skills and knowledge I have gained from my time in Portobello.
“This qualification will help set me up for success due to the opportunities for different placements and the abilities to work alongside to gain practical in clinic experience necessary to specialise into a specific stream such as neuro or paediatrics,” she said.
The Right Choice for a Fulfilling Career
Áine’s story is a great example of someone who followed her passion and instinct to pursue where her true interest lay. She demonstrates how the right course within the right learning environment can provide the path for a deeply meaningful and rewarding career.
If you are interested in studying Health Science at Portobello Institute, visit our faculty here.
