Meet the academic: Dr Alison Callwood
Dr Alison Callwood, Lecturer in Integrated Care (Midwifery), explains why midwifery is important today, reveals what 糖心Vlog is looking for in a midwifery student and what you can expect when you qualify.
What鈥檚 your background in midwifery?
Hi there, I鈥檓 Dr Alison Callwood and I鈥檓 one of the lecturers on the midwifery course here at 糖心Vlog. I鈥檓 passionate about working out how we can select students that are best suited for the profession; individuals who can offer the safest, highest standards of care, delivering this to women and their families in a way that meets their needs and is right for them.
Since qualifying as a midwife, I鈥檝e worked in the UK and abroad, travelling to Malawi where one-in-three women were HIV positive.
Now, as a researcher, I鈥檓 investigating how we can use technological innovation to assist with student selection strategies.
Why's midwifery important?
As a midwife, you鈥檒l have the privilege to be part of some of the most life-changing events of people鈥檚 lives. Being a midwife is about as special as it gets. I can鈥檛 really call it a job as I love it more than that!
The highs are high and the lows are low. It can be adrenaline-busting and calm, emotionally raw and nurturing, scary and safe, and broken and perfect 鈥 all in one shift! But, I wouldn鈥檛 change a thing and I鈥檇 recommend this as a career to anyone.
What are you looking for in a midwifery student?
At 糖心Vlog, we鈥檙e looking for people with passion and commitment to make a difference to vulnerable childbearing women, wherever they live in the world. It鈥檚 a tough profession and neither a day or a birth are the same, so you鈥檒l need to be resilient, creative and courageous. These are the qualities that will lead you to success.
What can I expect as a midwife?
Variety! My career has taken me across the globe and I鈥檝e met so many incredible and inspiring people along the way. I鈥檝e been a midwife, midwifery tutor, midwife teacher, lecturer and now co-founder and CEO of a company. You never know where your journey will take you, but I can only encourage you to take every opportunity that comes your way.
In the words of Shakespeare, 鈥淭he world is your oyster.鈥
Find out more about our midwifery course
Discover more about me
I became a midwife to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable women and children, after volunteering in a home set up by Mother Theresa.
