Myurah Nathan, Clinical Scientist
Myurah Nathan, a clinical scientist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, works beyond the traditional hospital walls to bring technology and specialised equipment to help patients.
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Bringing healthcare science to patients
"I enjoy the variety my role offers. Most of my time is spent in the Sheffield Children’s Hospital gait lab, where I collect and process 3D motion data. This analysis directly informs clinical decisions such as orthopaedic surgical planning or the prescription of orthotic devices such as insoles or splints. I also run a community-based foot pressure clinic, where I bring our technology into a health and fitness setting. This allows me to see people outside the traditional hospital environment and opens up conversations about the importance of overall wellbeing.
"Although healthcare science is often viewed as a behind-the-scenes profession, my role is very much patient facing. I regularly work with patients during assessments, bringing specialised equipment to them and ensuring tests are carried out safely and accurately. This means I spend time explaining procedures, supporting patients throughout the assessment, and adapting the setup to meet individual needs.
Research and innovation
"My role also gives me the opportunity to contribute to research, including the SHAPES trial, which explores the effect of adaptive patterned electrical stimulation on arm spasticity following stroke. In this project, I am responsible for fitting participants with the device and teaching them how to use it.
"As a scientist I also look for new developments from current research and try and implement it into clinical practice, introducing improved analytical methods and technologies that enhance diagnostic accuracy and service efficiency.
"I've also had the opportunity to be a healthcare science innovation fellow. This programme allowed me to learn the innovation process in an area of interest, diabetic foot health."
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