Profile
Maaya Modha
Looking forward to meeting more wonderful students during this week of chats!
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About Me:
I live just outside of London with my husband, 15-month old baby, and our two cats. I have lots of interests, many of which are related to science – pharmacy, research, teaching medical students, and improving the health and wellbeing of others!
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I am fascinated by science, specifically how we as scientists communicate with people. I work as a pharmacist and with medical students, teaching them clinical communication and cultural competence – basically how to talk to a patient from any background and do this in a kind and understanding way. I am also researching the science behind non-medical activities – gardening, singing, meditation – on our wellbeing, with the aim of trying to change modern medicine to include these (if the evidence is there!)
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My pronouns are:
She/her
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My Work:
During the week I teach medical students at King’s College London and I study on a Master’s programme in Creative Health at UCL. I also work as a pharmacist and a Personal Trainer a few times a month which keeps me happy and motivated, as I love helping people improve their health and learning new things! 🙂
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I have always been passionate about teaching so it is an absolute dream for me to be teaching university students at KCL, where I graduated from! Teaching is also an important part of my work as a Personal Trainer, as I have clients who want to learn how to improve their health. When I’m at work as a pharmacist, I also have the added bonus of teaching people about their medicines and how to take them safely and effectively.
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My Typical Day:
Everyday is different depending on where I am!
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At KCL – teaching students in lectures or workshops, designing interactive and engaging teaching sessions, marking student work, giving students feedback
At UCL – learning, like you! Taking notes, answering questions, doing background reading at home, talking to the other students in my class
In the pharmacy – reviewing prescriptions, dispensing medicines, checking medicines, speaking to patients about how best to take their medicines, calling doctors to discuss prescriptions, answering questions from patients about medicines or symptoms
As a Personal Trainer – meeting clients to discuss their goals, designing workouts, teaching workouts, reviewing progress, changing workout plans based on client preferences and progress
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I will use the prize money to support my research in to meditation in pregnancy and childbirth. I have personal experience of the benefits of meditation and I recently looked at all of the evidence of when this has been done around the world, and found that it has helped a large number of women/birthing people. For my Master’s I will be working with the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation and a group of women who are black or South Asian because in the UK, women from these backgrounds have been found to be at risk of having problems during pregnancy and/or labour.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
An enthusiastic and joyful teacher
What did you want to be after you left school?
A modern languages teacher
Were you ever in trouble at school?
I once sat on a wooden bench during PE when I wasn't supposed to! My first and only time standing outside the Headmaster's Office!
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Doing more research and spending time with my family
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Alicia Keys
What's your favourite food?
Pizza - NO QUESTION!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1. I could fly, 2. I could create more time like the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter, I'd love a Day of Requirement! & 3. I could change the weather so it's sunny whenever I want it to be!
Tell us a joke.
Why did the mushroom go to the disco?
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