After seven years of part-time study, countless late nights and a global pandemic, Gill Hubbard, Head of Quality at SWLP, has officially completed her MSc in Healthcare Quality Management.
“It’s a great achievement,” she says with a smile. “I’m just very happy to be done with it.”
Gill began the MSc just before COVID-19 changed the world. Studying through Biomed Online in conjunction with the Institute of Biomedical Science, the programme consisted of four intensive 12-week modules followed by a major project. Each module was delivered primarily online and required significant commitment, all while Gill continued to work full time.
“It was three months of pain,” she jokes. “But you find the time. There’s never really a good time to do it, so if you’re thinking about it, just do it.”
Choosing passion and purpose
The MSc in Healthcare Quality Management required Gill to select three core quality-focused modules and one elective. Her choices reflected both her professional role and her personal interests:
- Quality Systems Management
- Advanced Quality Management
- Governance and Risk
- Blood Transfusion (elective)
Of all four, Blood Transfusion stood out as her favourite.
“That’s what first got me interested in pathology when I left university,” she explains. At the time, she was working as a Blood Transfusion Quality Manager, so the module felt like everything was coming together, professional practice, academic study and personal passion.
Her advice to others considering further study is simple: choose modules you genuinely care about.
“Education is always much easier if you’ve got some kind of pull or interest in what you’re doing, especially if you can apply it to real life.”
Studying through uncertainty
Gill’s journey wasn’t straightforward. The pandemic forced pauses and adjustments, and at one point her final project almost didn’t happen.
Originally, her dissertation was centred on applying a social change management approach to implementing Q-Pulse. However, when the project she intended to study did not materialise, she had to rethink her entire approach, just weeks before her deadline.
“I was four weeks before my due date thinking, how can I apply a change management approach to something that doesn’t exist?”
With limited time, she designed a new project: a theoretical scenario applying a people-focused change management framework to a previously completed project. It was ambitious, and it worked. After securing a short extension, she completed what was meant to take several months in just six weeks.
“It was a bit touch-and-go towards the end. I was living and breathing my dissertation.”
One lecturer even commented that her revised project sounded more interesting than the original, a small but satisfying affirmation after a stressful pivot.
From learning to confidence
Interestingly, Gill reflects that the MSc did not radically transform how she works, but it subtly strengthened and formalised her existing expertise.
“One piece of feedback I received was that I was clearly not there to learn, but to cement what I had learned.”
Rather than introducing entirely new concepts, the course provided structure, academic grounding and confidence. It validated her professional knowledge and sharpened her approach to quality management.
It also strengthened her ability to support others.
“Not everybody knows what you know. Going through the course as a more experienced quality professional has helped me relate to staff who are developing and becoming interested in quality.”
The experience deepened her empathy and reinforced her commitment to mentoring and sharing knowledge within the team.
A proud graduation moment
After seven years, the graduation ceremony felt particularly meaningful. Family members watched via livestream, including her grandparents, while her husband and brother attended in person.
“It’s probably one of my proudest achievements,” she reflects. “Especially because I did it through such a traumatic time.”
Despite a slightly confusing moment exiting the stage (“I didn’t know which way to walk!” she laughs), the overwhelming feeling was relief and pride.
What’s next?
For someone who loves learning, would she return to education again?
“Yes,” she says without hesitation. “I love investigating and seeing how we can do things differently.”
But first, a well-earned break.
Gill’s MSc journey is a testament to resilience, passion and quiet determination. Balancing full-time leadership, a global pandemic and academic study is no small feat. Her story is not just about a qualification, it’s about perseverance, adaptability and a commitment to excellence in healthcare quality.
And after seven years, she’s more than earned the right to say: job done.
