While many fellow International Management and Modern Languages (IMML) graduates headed into marketing and consulting, Molly did something different. She found her calling in the NHS, and hasn't looked back since.
Starting as a healthcare assistant during the pandemic, she’s risen to become a Service Manager for Cancer Performance and Improvement, publishing research in the British Medical Journal and receiving a Rising Star Award in 2026. It's a career built on the skills Bath gave her and driven by something she didn't anticipate: work that makes a tangible difference.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I chose Bath because it offered the perfect combination of Business and Spanish. The course stood out as one of the few where I could study modules fully in the target language, which was such a unique opportunity.
I liked that the first year covered a broad mix of subjects like economics, marketing, accounting and statistics. It felt like the ideal balance between academic challenge and real-world application.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Do you have any favourite memories or preferred places to visit on campus or in the city?
I absolutely loved my time at Bath. Living in Oldfield was a highlight – it was amazing being able to pop over to friends’ houses so easily and have everyone close by.
Some of my favourite memories were sitting by the lake in summer with the ducks, cycling through the tunnels during lockdown, and, in my final year, even making it up that hill to campus on my bike!
I also joined the salsa and Latin American society, where I got to continue immersing myself in the Latin culture and meet lovely people. The sense of community, both on campus and in the city, really made it feel like home.
Were you part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? What did you enjoy most about them?
Yes! I was Chair of the Environment Society, People & Planet, and worked as a regional organiser with the charity itself, helping to plan sustainability events across universities. I was also part of the Weightlifting Society (team chalk), which was a brilliant way to keep fit.
Another highlight was being part of the Vegetarian Society. I loved cooking and helping to organise communal dinners, including one where I cooked for around 50 people. It was a great way to bring people together and bond.
Describe your career journey since graduating.
Finishing my placement year during the pandemic definitely changed my path. I began working as a healthcare assistant in a nursing home in the summer after placement, before joining Bath’s Royal United Hospital to support the vaccine rollout by registering patients for their jab.
After that, I joined the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, which was an incredible opportunity. I worked across both community and acute trusts, managing admin teams in A&E and Therapies, and led on developing an organisation’s patient experience strategy.
From there, I moved into quality improvement at another trust, which was later named Organisation of the Year 2025 by the Lean Competency System. There I found what drives me – reviewing processes, using data to inform improvement, and engaging staff in meaningful change.
During that time, one of the quality improvement projects that I led, which focused on reducing the length of hospital stays for patients with urinary tract infections, got published in a peer-reviewed British Medical Journal article. That was a really proud moment for our team.
In my current role as Service Manager for Cancer Performance and Improvement, I focus on meeting national cancer targets and ensuring our cancer Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) run effectively and safely across four hospital sites. I was proud to receive the Rising Star Award in 2026 for supporting the recovery of cancer performance, which was a real team effort that meant a lot. It’s a busy, varied and incredibly rewarding role.
What is a typical day like in your current role?
Every day is different! My role involves working closely with clinical and operational teams to make sure cancer pathways run smoothly and safely. A big part of my day is expediting patient pathways, data analysis, risk and incident reviews, and collaborating with operational colleagues to drive improvement. For example, looking at reducing waiting times for imaging or endoscopy.
I manage a team, so I spend time on performance reviews, workload planning, and developing KPIs and standard operating procedures. Recently, we've been exploring how AI and automation can improve our processes; it’s an exciting area to work in.
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
Honestly, I never imagined myself working in the NHS. Most of my course mates went into business or marketing, but it has been an incredible experience. The most rewarding part is seeing the tangible impact of your work. For example, one of my projects helped reduce cystoscopy waiting times, which improved pathways and experience for bladder cancer patients.
What’s surprised me most is how much I’ve enjoyed the challenge. It’s not easy work, but it’s meaningful, and you learn something new every single day.
How did your studies help you develop?
My degree at Bath gave me such a strong foundation for my career. The data analysis and finance modules have been directly relevant to what I do now, and the constant group projects really strengthened my teamwork and presentation skills. I think the placement year is an incredible opportunity to learn workplace skills in a foreign country. I was lucky enough to work in consulting in a start up in Madrid. Not to mention bonding with my course mates out there who are now friends for life!
What advice would you give to prospective students considering studying your course at Bath?
Go for it! It’s one of the best courses in the country, and you’ll learn so much – not just academically but personally too. The business side gives you skills that are valuable in almost any career, and having a language is something you’ll carry with you for life. Make the most of every opportunity – Bath is such a special place to study.
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