Clinical Excellence, Development and Research for Health and Care Professionals (CEDaR)

I am the Trust research capacity and capability lead for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals', leading the strategy and implementation of research across the Trust.

Cardiac nursing continues to be the focus of my research and I have been active within the sphere of cardiac nursing nationally and internationally, joining editorial boards and scientific committees.

I am a Visiting Professor at the Oxford School of Nursing and teach students from pre-registration through to doctoral studies. 

I currently supervise PhDs, Professional Doctorates and MSc ACP dissertations. I am a member of several national groups that explore and support the development of nursing and midwifery research and clinical academic roles.

These include the NIHR nursing and midwifery incubator, the NIHR advanced surgical technology incubator, clinical academic research implementation network (CARIN) and the Chief Nursing Office research transformation group.

I am one of the 2023 cohort on the NIHR Senior Research Leaders Programme.

Email: helen.walthall@ouh.nhs.uk

I am the Head of NMAHPs, clinical research delivery. My role is to provide clinical advice and leadership to all NMAHP delivery staff and oversight for teams working in clinical research.

I am responsible for ensuring frameworks for clinical governance, competencies and education are in place for research delivery staff. A key aspect of my role is to work on the integration of clinical research across all areas of the Trust and NMAHP strategic plan. I am passionate about clinical research and the opportunities it offers to patients. 

I have worked in clinical research since 1999, mainly in cancer research and clinically within early phase clinical trials. In addition to my nursing role, I have managed a sample handling laboratory, been the designate person on a human tissue collection, overseen a quality management system and managed a team of research administrative staff.

I have hosted many audits and MHRA inspections. I regularly teach and do presentations both locally and nationally.

Email: sandie.wellman@ouh.nhs.uk

I work alongside the team to develop research capacity and capability for nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals within the Trust.

My background, expertise and current research activity involves perioperative patient care, surgical assisting, patient-reported outcome measures, patient blood management and patient recovery. I am one of the 2024 cohort on the NIHR Senior Research Leaders Programme.

I am an Honorary Departmental Clinical Academic Nurse Researcher at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS) and the Data Driven Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) Research Fellow, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.

I completed my DPhil in Musculoskeletal Sciences at the University of Oxford, and my specific area of focus was early patient recovery following hip and knee replacement surgery.

Email: louise.strickland@ouh.nhs.uk

Louise Strickland - Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences

I am a nurse with a clinical background in neuroscience and critical care nursing. I am a research active clinician and educationist who is passionate about supporting practitioners and academics to develop research skills to ensure excellence in care delivery and patient experience and optimal clinical outcomes.

I completed my PhD in March 2020 entitled: 'What are the components of a 'good' ward round in a large critical care unit and how can we make them happen more often?' My study was an improvement-focused appreciative inquiry study exploring ward rounds and was undertaken collaboratively with clinicians in the study site.

Current and previous research studies, development projects and publications have focused on using simulation-based education as an educational strategy, interprofessional learning and working, critical care, delivery of fundamental care to patients, and international educated nurses, under the umbrella term of Workforce Development. I am one of the 2024 cohort on the NIHR Senior Research Leaders Programme.

I currently supervise PhDs, Professional Doctorates and MSc, ACP dissertations. I am a Strategy and Policy Forum Member for the International Learning Collaborative (ILC) an international organisation that advocates for the promotion of high quality person-centred fundamental care delivery and research. In my current role I am leading on workstreams aligned to increasing opportunities for NMAHPPS to engage and gain research skills and confidence.

Email: clair.merriman@ouh.nhs.uk

Dr Clair Merriman - Oxford Brookes University

I have a background in renal dialysis nursing for over 15 years and have always been passionate about research. During my time in renal dialysis, I worked in research delivery for 14 years and led the renal research team for two years.

I completed my PhD in Health Care Studies in 2020 at Oxford Brookes University. My PhD looked at the design, development and evaluation of a physical exercise program for renal dialysis patients suitable for use in both clinical and domestic environments.

I have several research interests that include patient wellbeing and exercise, use of wearable devices to determine activity levels and patient vital sign monitoring.

I continue to support renal service evaluation and quality improvement projects as well as supporting projects across the divisions. I have expertise in qualitative research methods and have collaborations with University of Exeter Clinical rehabilitation group. In my current role I am leading on the development of the research pages on the internet and intranet as well developing a metrics to capture NMAHPPS research activity.

As a midwife my research aligns to supporting women, birthing people and parental choice and autonomy during pregnancy and childbirth specifically, birth in water and midwifery care of pregnant and new mothers in prison.

As well as working as a midwife, I have been a clinical placement facilitator for NMAHP students, Lead Midwife for Education at the University of Northampton and Head of the Health Professions team (Paramedics, Midwifery, Podiatry and Dental Nursing).

I am looking forward to the opportunity to support OUH CSS and Corporate teams to increase research capacity further supporting evidence-based practice.

Email: claire.clews@ouh.nhs.uk