Current role

My current role is 'Lecturer in Clinical Cancer Nursing', which is a joint clinical-academic role between Ulster University and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Research profile

My research profile spans across cancer, end of life and bereavement care. I am particularly interested in family-centred cancer care and supporting families when a significant adult caregiver for children (<18) has cancer. Visit ulster.ac.uk/fccc for details of completed projects and resources as part of this ongoing programme of work.

Current research projects

(1) Family-centred cancer care: - ongoing programme of work aimed at supporting families when an adult with significant caregiving responsibilities for dependent children (<18) is at end of life with cancer.  Evidence-based and theory-driven educational interventions for health and social care professionals have been developed and evaluated. This includes face-to-face training and an eLearning intervention. Other outputs include co-produced educational video resources and a communication framework. Resources are free to access at ulster.ac.uk/fccc

Our Team's current project is funded by NIHR and is exploring the support needs of families living in deprivation, when an adult with significant caregiving responsibilities for dependent children is at end of life with cancer.

(2) Suicide ideation in head and neck cancer - novel project exploring the experiences, needs and challenges of patients and carers impacted by head and neck cancer who have thoughts of self-harm or suicide. 

Our Team's current project is funded by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and is a global qualitative study exploring health and social care professionals' experiences of caring for and managing suicidal ideation in patients with head and neck cancer.

PhD researchers (current and completed)

Ms Katherine Penney - Using creative arts and design practice to visualise the experience and needs of patients with head and neck cancer. Supervision team: Prof Chris McHugh, Prof Cherith Semple and Dr Jeff Hanna.

Ms Sharyu Mhamane - Family-centred cancer care: Plan, develop and feasibility test a self-guided intervention for adults who are at end of life with cancer and have significant caregiving responsibilities for dependent children. Supervision team: Dr Jeff Hanna and Prof Cherith Semple.

Dr Laura Keaver - Exploring and informing the provision of nutrition advice to patients with cancer and healthcare professionals, with a focus on cancer survivorship. Awarded December 2023.

External activity

- United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) Champion for Northern Ireland.

- Editorial Advisory Board Member for the journal Palliative Medicine.

- Services Development Committee member for Cancer Fund for Children.

- Presidential Training Fellow for the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).