My name is Daisy Forman, and I am a PhD Student at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, and a Registered Nurse. My research explores how NHS Complications from Excess Weight Clinics support engagement amongst children, young people and families from ethnic minority backgrounds.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
At the moment my days vary, which I really enjoy. I’m about to start my primary data collection, so things will get a lot busier, but this is a stage I’m genuinely looking forward to. Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time reading, writing, planning, and going through the ethics processes for my project. I’m looking forward to talking directly with children, young people and families, hearing their experiences first-hand, and seeing how the research moves from planning into practice. It feels like the point at which all the groundwork begins to come together!
What first sparked your interest in working in the field of obesity?
My interest in obesity as a field of research started during my clinical practice as a nurse, working across both acute and community settings. It was in community nursing especially that I saw first-hand just how much living with overweight and obesity can affect every part of a person’s life, not only physically, but socially and emotionally too.
Although my clinical background is in adult nursing, my experiences have made me much more aware of how important earlier intervention and support during childhood is, which is what drew me towards researching children and young people specifically. I also saw first-hand how health inequalities shaped families’ experiences, which highlighted how important it is to address these disparities.
What’s one tool, method, or hack that makes your work life easier that you wish everyone knew about?
I’d say be realistic with your timelines, as everything seems to take a lot longer than you think it will!
I’ve found it really useful to go back and reflect on my original timeline throughout the PhD, especially for processes like ethics approvals, which in my experience has involved many unpredictable steps and delays. I think something a bit more detailed than a standard Gantt chart (something that breaks down specific processes like ethics into individual stages) would have helped me plan more realistically from the start, and it’s something I’d definitely recommend anyone who is starting their PhD.
How has being part of the ECN changed your journey so far?
I’ve had a really positive experience of being part of the ECN so far. I attended the ECN Masterclass in Portugal last November, and it was a valuable experience, especially for networking.
In experience in nursing, networking wasn’t something that I was ever really encouraged to do, so when I first started my PhD it was new to me. I thought the Masterclass was a great way of meeting new people, and it made me feel part of something. I met many people there who I am still in contact with now, and I am hopeful these connections will go on to shape my future career.
What has been the most rewarding or exciting project that you’ve worked on?
I would say my PhD project is the most rewarding experience I have had so far, not only for the research itself, but for all the opportunities it has provided.
My PhD is linked to an NIHR-funded evaluation called ‘Evaluating the NHS England Complications of Excess Weight services for children and young people (ENHANCE)’, and through ENHANCE I’ve had some very valuable experiences. For example, I have seen the importance of patient and public involvement in research through working with the services such as SHINE Health Academy. I’ve seen first-hand how much richer research becomes when it’s shaped by the people it’s meant to serve.
I’m also a student rep for the Yorkshire Obesity Research Alliance (YORA), which has been a great way to connect with academics, clinicians, and policymakers across the region.
Together, these opportunities have meant I’ve been able to meet, chat with, and work alongside people from so many different areas and backgrounds, and that’s honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my PhD so far.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to the “you” who was just starting out?
I would say push yourself out of your comfort zone. For me, networking was something that felt difficult at first. However, I wish I’d known sooner how valuable it is to build connections early, and actually, most people are really happy to help!
I’d also say make the most of the opportunities that are available to you. So many positive things have come from the opportunities I said yes to, and they’ve genuinely shaped my PhD journey so far.
What excites you most about the future of obesity research?
Research is changing constantly, and I think there’s been a real shift towards listening to the experiences of people who are at risk of health inequalities, rather than assuming one approach works for everyone. I hope my research highlights where services are already being inclusive and accessible, as well as identifying where change is still needed to improve things for these populations.
Where do you see yourself in five years – what’s your dream project or role?
In five years, I see myself building on the work I’m doing now. I hope to be using creative methods to make sure the voices of underrepresented children, young people and families are properly heard, and that this leads to more inclusive and accessible services.
What kinds of projects or initiatives would you be most interested in collaborating on with other ECN members?
I’d love to collaborate on anything that explores health inequalities, as well as projects using creative methods. I think being creative when working with children and young people in research is important, and I hope to see more opportunities and guidance to support it.
Is there anything else you’d like the ECN to know about you?
I bring a slightly different perspective to research, having come from a nursing background. However, I think that my clinical experience really shapes how I approach my research. I’m always happy to chat to anyone thinking of making the move from clinical practice into academia. I found it quite a change at first, but it’s been very rewarding so far!
Connect with Daisy!
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daisy-forman-0b0879260
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