Biography
Karen joined Edinburgh Napier University in 2005 as a Macmillan Lecturer/Practitioner in Cancer Nursing with her teaching commitments spanning both the University and the Edinburgh Cancer Centre. Karen works in partnership with clinical educators to ensure widening access and lifelong learning in staff members, by supporting the development and the delivery of educational initiatives. Since 2011 Karen has held a portfolio of Macmillan Cancer Support funding grants associated develop and deliver a sustainable cancer education strategy for practitioners, caring for patients living with and beyond their cancer. In 2014 Karen was awarded as a co-lead with Suzanne Cruickshank, the tender for the Evaluation of the ‘Transforming Care after Treatment’ Scotland Macmillan Programme. In 2016 Karen held the PI for phase 2 Continuation of National Evaluation of TCAT: Ensuring and Enhancing the Evidence (TCAT) and Health Economic Evaluation Work Strand: Continuity and Quality.
Karen is leading with Professor Austyn Snowden( 2022-2024) an analysis, synthesis and reporting on the Transforming Cancer Care by collating data from 32 integrated heath and social care sites across Scotland. Karen is also a UKONS grant holder ( 2022-2023) exploring the perception and experience of potential exposure to hazardous drugs which administering cytotoxic drugs.
Externally Karen is President Elect of the UK Oncology Nursing Society having been on the board since 2017. She is an active member of the Blood Cancer UK Nursing Forum.
Karen peer reviews for Cancer Nursing, Cancer Nursing Practice and
Karen has completed the PgCert in Blended and Online Education and Edinburgh Napier Mentoring and Coaching Award (EN MCA) as part of her on going professional development. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.