Lisa Burns, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

 I was inspired to become a Dietitian from a young age following experiencing a dietetic assessment of a family member. It was clear it was the career path for me, combining by love for food, science and helping people!

I started off my career in 2014 as a rotational Band 5 dietitian, and I was fortunate to gain experience in a range of dietetic specialities. I have worked at the Trust for 5 years now, progressing to a senior Band 6 role in Surgery, and then onto my current specialist role.

It was clear from early on in my career I had a passion for surgical dietetics and the difference Dietitians can make in this patient group.

My role combines both clinical and managerial aspects. My clinical caseload involves working with patients on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway. This is about supporting the patient's journey from before to after surgery, and onwards towards recovery.

It is incredibly rewarding. I have a real passion for helping to improve a patient's nutritional status and their outcomes  following surgery. I work with the wider colorectal surgery multi-disciplinary team which has a great sense of team work and a shared passion for patient care.

My managerial role involves mentoring junior members of staff, co-ordinating the day-to-day smooth provision of an acute dietetic service, leading on the development of guidelines and initiatives that strive to improve patient care, and representing the department at our Trust's nutrition advisory group.

No two days are the same in Dietetics! Every day can represent a new challenge and we are constantly learning and adapting practice based on research. 

Dietitians are well respected members of the wider MDT and enjoy great team working opportunities. 

We can communicate nutritional research, that can often be misinterpreted without an expert eye, in a way that is accurate and meaningful for the general public.

If you want a fast paced, innovative, forward thinking, passionate profession, with the best interests of patients always at the forefront, Dietetics is the career for you.