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Bright Futures: Celebrating Our Portuguese Students' Nutrition "Shark Tank"!


Viewing a student presentation on the stage of a theatre
The Shark Tank in the magnificent Thalia Theatre, Lisbon

Our specialist Dietitian, Dr Kattya Mayre-Chilton, attended a unique event at the Thalia Theatre in Lisbon last Friday, 28th June.

 

The event, known as the "Nutrition Shark Tank" (similar to the UK's Dragon's Den), provided a platform for final-year Nutrition Science students from NOVA Medical School in Lisbon, Portugal, to showcase their talents and entrepreneurial spirit to potential employers and investors.

 

This innovative model, developed in partnership with Nova SBE's Health Economics & Management Knowledge Centre, aims to bridge the gap between academia and the job market. Students presented "visionary projects with solutions to different problems in the area of Health," demonstrating their ability to translate academic knowledge into practical applications.

 

Kattya was invited by students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Nova Medical School, who were recently on placement at Mildmay Hospital. I was so impressed by the students' pitches," says Kattya. "The presentations were filled with creative ideas and excitement for their future careers as young professionals. It was a pleasure to see alumni from previous years who were also attending, all generating an atmosphere of learning and connection."


pitched innovative health solutions to industry leaders.
Dr Kattya and students from NOVA Medical School

This "strengthens the link between academia and the job market," as highlighted by Professor Conceição Calhau, Coordinator of the Degree in Nutritional Sciences at NOVA Medical School.

 

Several industry leaders, including representatives from CUF, Nestlé, Eurest, and Abbott, acted as "sharks" who assessed the student projects. This provided valuable feedback and exposed students to the real-world challenges they'll face in their careers.


Mariana Nóbrega, Community & Programme Manager at NOVA Medical School said, “It was a pleasure to welcome Dr Kattya. Thank you for facilitating part of the journey of our students!”

 


 

At Mildmay Hospital, we're committed to fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals. We were fortunate to have had these talented students on placement with us recently, and we were incredibly impressed by their dedication and talent. We wish them all the best as they embark on their exciting careers!