Nova Medical School Students Explore Nutrition and Sleep at Mildmay

11 hours ago
2 min read

Four students stand by a table of leaflets and food samples in the hospital's conservatory

Mildmay Hospital has a long-standing commitment not only to specialist HIV and complex rehabilitation care, but also to training and mentoring future healthcare professionals. Our international internship programme with Nova Medical School, Lisbon, continues to play an important role in that mission.

Sleep

This year, we were pleased to welcome Nutritional Sciences students Mafalda Martins, Mariana Silva, Mariana Veiga and Marta Bastos to Mildmay.

Their project focused on a simple but significant question: how can nutrition support better sleep in patients undergoing recovery?

A food and sleep poster on the wall of the hospital — Information has been posted around the hospital

Sleep is fundamental to quality of life, immune function and cognitive recovery. Given the complexity of cases treated at Mildmay, sleep disturbance is a common concern for patients and healthcare providers alike. The students were tasked with conducting a literature review exploring foodstuffs that may support sleep as a natural, complementary option within patients’ routines.

While strong clinical evidence remains limited, the students identified emerging findings and translated these into accessible patient leaflets. Patients were offered the opportunity to try the suggested drinks before bedtime and to complete feedback forms assessing their sleep quality and overall experience.

Cover of Food and Sleep leaflet — Click to download a copy

The project combined research, patient engagement and practical implementation, reflecting the multidisciplinary and person-centred approach that underpins care at Mildmay.

Two women in conversation in Mildmay's conservatory — Drug and Alcohol Worker Theresa stops by

International internships such as this one benefit both students and patients. Students gain experience within a specialist UK rehabilitation setting, encountering complex clinical presentations and working within a collaborative, evidence-based framework. At the same time, their projects bring fresh perspectives and contribute meaningfully to patient wellbeing.

We are grateful to Professor Filomena Gomes for initiating and supporting this partnership, and to Professor Marta Silvestre, who oversees the internship programme at Nova Medical School. Our thanks also to Dr Kattya Mayre-Chilton, Specialist Dietitian at Mildmay, for supervising and guiding the students throughout their placement.

By investing in education and clinical mentorship, Mildmay continues to contribute not only to today’s patient outcomes, but to the development of compassionate, skilled healthcare professionals for the future.