Kanders Churchill Scholar Maddie McCarthy is putting her academic skills to practical use in a collaboration with Addenbrooke’s Hospital, working to tackle one of the NHS’s most pressing challenges – A&E waiting times.
As part of her MPhil in Public Policy, Maddie has joined the hospital’s strategy team to develop policy that aims to increase options for urgent and emergent care in the community. The initiative has multiple goals: reducing pressure on A&E departments, minimising hospital-related adverse outcomes for vulnerable populations, and expanding specialist care availability within community settings.
“The project focuses on creating sustainable solutions that benefit both patients and healthcare providers,” explains Maddie, who is also helping to establish clinical quality metrics for the hospital’s long-term strategic planning. This includes developing evaluation frameworks to track the effectiveness of community-based care initiatives.
For Maddie, this placement has been far more than just an academic requirement.
“My work at CUH has felt more like a daily trip to an intellectual playground rather than a requirement for my course. When I came to the UK, I had very little knowledge of the National Health Service, which has made for a simultaneously steep learning curve and exciting educational experience.”
She feels fortunate to be contributing to what she describes as “one of Britain’s most beloved institutions.”
While such research projects are a requirement of her degree programme, Maddie secured this specific opportunity through Churchill College’s robust network. Former Churchill Scholar Dr Joseph Kannarkat facilitated the initial connection, with additional support from her College tutor, Dr Clare Sander, a Churchill Fellow who introduced Maddie to the current and former executive leadership at Addenbrooke’s Hospital where she is a Consultant Respiratory Physician.
The collaboration exemplifies Churchill College’s commitment to supporting its postgraduate students in finding meaningful research opportunities that address real-world challenges.
Life as a postgraduate student at Churchill College has provided Maddie with a rich balance of academic and social experiences. When not on her work placement, her typical day might include lectures, catching up on work in the College Buttery (café), chatting with College staff, enjoying a run around the grounds, and meeting friends for dinner in hall.
Maddie has also been able to maintain her connection to clinical practice, seeing patients at Addenbrooke’s once a week.
“Given that I plan on becoming a physician, I try to see patients at Addenbrooke’s on a weekly basis, which allows me to keep my clinical knowledge fresh while understanding the ways policy impacts individual patients and their care. I especially enjoy seeing patients with my tutor, a Respiratory Consultant at Addenbrooke’s, who I adore and has become a terrific mentor to me.”
It’s been a remarkably productive year for Maddie both academically and personally. Beyond her coursework and hospital placement, she has completed and submitted six publications to peer-reviewed health policy and medical journals, some co-authored with Cambridge professors. She has also managed to visit ten different countries with friends from Churchill and spent quality time with family members who have visited from America.
When asked what she values most about life at Churchill College, Maddie’s answer reflects her professional interests.
“Given my longstanding interest in creating policy that is designed to better serve communities, it’s probably unsurprising that I most value our community. The College has terrific leadership, which lays the foundation for a terrific culture of care and collaboration. No student is anonymous at Churchill – a rarity for higher education, and a large part of what I believe makes the College so special.”
Her experience at Churchill has clearly made a lasting impression. “I wouldn’t want to be a member of any other College, and I plan to give back to and support Churchill for many years to come,” she affirms.
The Kanders Churchill Scholarship, which supports Maddie’s studies, provides full funding for two talented American students to attend one year of Master’s study in science policy at Churchill College.
