Leading children and young people’s nurse appointed as Honorary Professor

Marie’s career in nursing started in 1984 when she qualified as an Enrolled Nurse (EN) General or as it was more commonly known then a ‘bedside nurse’. Marie started her career working with children and young people (CYP) and continues within this field of practice today.

As the nursing profession developed and changed, Marie took the opportunity of undertaking a full-time conversion course to become a Registered General Nurse (RGN), learning more about the theory of evidenced based health promotion along the way. Continuing to develop her knowledge and skills, Marie undertook further academic qualification with a Diploma of Higher Education, which exposed her to research and research methodologies, triggering the start of her interest in research.

While working as a Community Specialist Practitioner focussing on diabetes care, she was offered the opportunity of doing a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc Hons), and whilst undertaking her dissertation, was supported to produce a scholarly paper and achieve her first publication. 

Aware that research evidence relating to the experiences of CYP living with diabetes was limited, Marie was then driven to embark on a part time PhD with the University of Central Lancashire. 

However, at that time, a PhD for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals was a new concept, and the only established clinical academic pathways were for medics. Feeling that her only research career option would be to leave clinical practice altogether, Marie instead chose to remain in nursing and try to forge links and relationships with universities. 

In 2011, Marie became a part time Honorary Research Associate at the University of Manchester, before being invited to be part of a Public Health England project called Well North Project, and then joining the Shared Health Foundation, Oglesby Trust. 

In 2017 Marie was successful appointed to Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) as the Consultant Nurse for Healthcare Transition, a strategic role with a focus on improving services and the experiences of CYP with long term conditions and their parents moving from children’s to adult healthcare services. Marie’s research work continued in this role, with her findings providing the evidence to justify the need to develop a youth worker service at MFT, to support the healthcare transition agenda. 

In November 2021, Marie was recognised by the Chief Nursing Officer for England and presented with a Gold Award for her services to the health of children and young people. 

Following this, in 2022 she was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) In the New Year Honours List for her services to children and young people’s health. 

On her appointment at the University of Salford, Marie said: “As a Children’s Nurse I am honoured and proud to have been appointed Honorary Professor in Children and Young Peoples Nursing at the University of Salford. I see this appointment as an opportunity to lead and strengthen the integration of clinical practice, research and education in the CYP workforce, whilst also contributing to the wider MFT NMAHP Research Strategy in facilitating the development of practice-based research capabilities and capacity building together with career pathways within healthcare. 

“I am truly proud of my nursing career to date, looking back, who knew just what that EN would go on to achieve in her field of practice as a CYP nurse!”

Dean of the School of Health and Society, Professor Margaret Rowe, said: “I am delighted that Marie has joined us as an honorary professor. At the University of Salford, we are proud of our excellent research record, which directly informs our teaching. I look forward to working with Marie on deepening and developing these links between research and education even further, ensuring our students graduate ready to become the clinical leaders of the future.”