Meet an apprenticeship coach: Sarah Marsden FBDO CL

“You are capable of more than you think,” is Sarah Marsden’s message to students. “There will be topics that come easily and ones that won’t, but you will get there in the end with a little bit of determination, consistency and perseverance.”

A dispensing optician (DO) and contact lens optician (CLO), Sarah has been an ABDO College distance learning tutor for nine years. She’s also a professional affairs consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision – providing clinical support and continuing professional development (CPD) delivery. She works in practice as a locum CLO/DO.

What attracted you to the field of optics?

Needing vision correction from a young age, I was fascinated by everything when I visited my optician and would always be asking questions! 

Why did you become an educator? 

I have always been passionate about encouraging others that I have worked with to explore the option of formal qualification and expand on their knowledge. I love seeing people develop over time and the moments when the penny drops and they ‘get it’.

How do you see the role of apprenticeship coach? 

An additional level of support, focusing on more than just the academic. I’m excited about getting to know my learners better, knowing what works for them and supporting them at a greater level.

How would you describe your career?

I started in optics over 35 years ago after a week’s work experience from school. The more I learnt the more I wanted to know and quickly progressed on to the dispensing optician distance learning course with ABDO. 

As a contact lens wearer myself and knowing the freedom it gave me, it was a natural progression to undertake further study to qualify as a contact lens optician. While studying for both qualifications I also progressed through management to run several flagship stores for Boots. 

I have also had field sales roles for both spectacle and contact lenses, but ultimately, I found my niche in a combination of supporting my own patients and other professionals to progress.

What drives you? 

I believe every patient deserves the best level of care. Supporting students to develop their skills means more patients can have the benefit of the expertise a dispensing optician brings to the practice.

Why should people choose apprenticeships?

The apprenticeship is the most supportive way of learning while earning. It will open the door to lots of opportunities and the course is structured in a way that helps to identify subject areas which you may be more passionate about. From paediatric dispensing, low vision, contact lenses, optometry and management, there is so much choice.

Do you have any top tips for students?

Plan ahead. Take a few moments to understand what is required in the coming weeks so that you can plan your workload. It’s tough learning and working so make sure you allow time for you too!

Ask questions – if you are not sure what’s being asked of you ask! Ask your coach, your practice education lead (PEL), another clinical colleague, but make sure you ask. You can’t be expected to find everything out for yourself, so use the people around you for support.

Is there anything they should avoid? 

If you are struggling to understand something, make someone aware – your practice education lead, your coach, your lecturer. The likelihood is the subject will raise its head again further down the line and only make things more challenging.

What have you learned as an educator?

That I love to help others to be the best they can be for their patients.

When a student messages you with a heartfelt thank you, you know then that all the challenges are worth it because of the difference you can help to make.