Martina Spinoglio started her NIHR INSIGHT Research Masters Studentship in October 2024. These studentships provide a stipend and cover tuition fees to study a research master’s course at King’s or one of our partnering universities. The studentships are aimed at nurses, midwives and professions allied to healthcare. Martina began her career as a midwife before moving into sonography, using soundwaves to assess fetal cardiac health. In this interview, she discusses how her studentship supported this career transition and has equipped her with the tools to combine clinical work with research going forwards.

Can you tell us about your current role, and your career so far?
I am currently working as a fetal cardiac sonographer. I initially qualified as a midwife in Rome in 2015 and moved to London in 2016, where I began working as a midwife.

Alongside my clinical work, I developed a growing interest in fetal ultrasound, which led me to undertake the Medical Ultrasound programme at King’s College London in 2019. I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound in 2020 and subsequently moved into obstetric ultrasound and fetal medicine as an obstetric sonographer.

As my experience developed, I became particularly interested in fetal anatomy and, more specifically, fetal cardiology. As part of my Postgraduate Diploma, I undertook a specialist placement in fetal cardiac ultrasound and graduated in 2024. This qualification enabled me to start working as a fetal cardiac sonographer, where I continue to build my expertise.

Why did you decide to apply for the INSIGHT Programme? 
Since beginning my Medical Ultrasound studies in 2019, I had a strong aspiration to complete the full MSc programme, including the research project. When the opportunity arose to propose a module of choice for the Postgraduate Diploma, I was able to design a fetal cardiac ultrasound module and re-enter the programme. This decision was academically fulfilling but also financially challenging, as I was self-funded throughout my studies.

During this period, my supervisor introduced me to the NIHR INSIGHT Programme as a potential route to continue my academic development. It represented an accessible and realistic opportunity to explore research alongside my clinical career and to progress towards a role that would combine both clinical and academic work.

What did you study during your time on the INSIGHT Programme?
During my time on the NIHR INSIGHT Programme, I completed an MSc in Clinical Ultrasound at King’s College London, which involved a research project focused on fetal medicine and fetal cardiology. My research investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a first trimester screening for congenital heart disease, performed at the time of the routine screening for common aneuploidies (Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome – most common chromosomal abnormalities) between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation. The aim of my research was to identify significant differences in characteristics, outcomes, and ultrasound image properties between cases of congenital heart defect detected during the first trimester of pregnancy and those diagnosed later in pregnancy.

How have you balanced your research master’s course with your professional role in health and care? Do you have any advice gained from this experience that would be useful for future applicants?
Balancing my MSc with my clinical role was definitely challenging. Working clinically meant that my days were already demanding, particularly in fetal cardiology where rare cardiac pathology is frequently encountered and a high level of specialist knowledge and independent study is required. Adding a research degree alongside this required careful time management, discipline, and a lot of personal commitment. What made it sustainable and motivating was that my research topic was closely aligned with my clinical practice and deeply important to me. My MSc focused on first trimester detection of congenital heart defects, and my daily clinical work continually reinforced the relevance of this research and its potential to improve patient care.

In terms of advice for future applicants, I would say: First, choose a topic you are genuinely passionate about. When your research matters to you personally and professionally, it doesn’t feel like an extra burden, it feels purposeful. Second, be realistic and organised. A research degree alongside clinical work requires planning and honest conversations with your team and supervisors about workload and expectations. Third, don’t underestimate the value of clinical insight. As health professionals, we are in a unique position to identify gaps in practice and ask meaningful questions that directly improve patient care.

How has the INSIGHT Programme influenced your career path? 
The NIHR INSIGHT Programme strengthened my interest in research alongside clinical practice. Through this experience, I developed a greater interest and a better understanding of the research process. It also supported my transition into a fetal cardiac sonographer role. The programme has encouraged me to consider future involvement in research activities alongside my clinical work.

What will be your next step after completing your NIHR INSIGHT research master’s, and how do you plan to use research as part of your future career?
My immediate next step is to continue integrating research within my clinical practice in fetal medicine and fetal cardiology. I am particularly interested in advancing early detection pathways for congenital heart defects, especially building on my MSc work around first trimester cardiac assessment. There is still significant variation in early detection rates in England, and I would like to contribute to research that improves consistency, training, and implementation across services.

Longer term, I hope to develop as a clinical academic sonographer, maintaining a strong clinical role while leading or collaborating on research projects that directly influence scanning protocols, education, and patient pathways. I am interested in pursuing further research focused on improving early cardiac screening and exploring how we can optimise sonographer training with the ultimate goal of improving early detection rates of major congenital heart defects.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a research-active health professional?
The most rewarding aspect of being a research-active health professional is seeing how research directly improves patient care. In my role as a fetal cardiac sonographer, research allows me to evaluate practice, identify knowledge gaps, and contribute to improvements that benefit families.

It also supports continual learning, professional growth, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. The greatest satisfaction for me comes from knowing that research can lead to earlier detection of conditions, better counselling, and improved outcomes, which was the focus of my research.

Is there any support that have you found particularly helpful while navigating your clinical academic career? 
One of the most helpful forms of support in developing my clinical academic career has been the feedback from both my academic and clinical supervisors. Having guidance from both perspectives was essential in supporting my growth. Balancing their expectations was sometimes challenging, particularly when managing differing priorities, but ongoing communication and constructive feedback helped align these demands. Ultimately, the combination of academic and clinical supervision strengthened the relevance of my research to clinical practice and increased my confidence in managing a dual career pathway.

What advice would you give to a health professional who’s looking to get into research? 
I would encourage health professionals to consider research as a highly rewarding career, particularly when combined with clinical practice. Maintaining a clinical role allows you to see the real-world impact of research through improved patient care, which can be highly motivating. My biggest piece of advice would be to choose a research topic you are genuinely passionate about, as this makes the challenges of research, such as setbacks, time pressures, and uncertainty, much easier to manage.

I would also recommend seeking early mentorship and being open to exploring different research opportunities to find an area that truly aligns with your interests and values.

Finally, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time? 
In my spare time, I enjoy a range of activities, but I particularly enjoy travelling. Exploring new places and cultures helps me relax and gain new perspectives. Travelling also gives me the opportunity to step away from routine and return with renewed motivation and energy.