معرفی
Cath Turner serves as Associate Head of School for the Allied Health Professions at the University of Sunderland, where she manages the podiatry, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy teams. As a Principal Lecturer, she teaches across three Occupational Therapy courses including the BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy, BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (Apprenticeship), and BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (Accelerated) programs. Currently pursuing a Professional Doctorate, she has been a Senior Lecturer in higher education since 2007, with previous teaching experience at Teesside University and international teaching engagements in Switzerland and Malaysia.
Dr. Turner's research portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on occupational therapy practice development, with particular emphasis on co-dependency issues within healthcare settings, role-emerging practice areas, and inclusion frameworks. Her scholarly work spans professional identity formation, interprofessional collaboration dynamics, and motivational factors in therapeutic practice, reflecting her dual commitment to clinical excellence and educational innovation.
Her publication record reveals strong engagement with professional development literature through multiple editions of textbooks on becoming occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Conference presentations consistently address identity, motivation, and interprofessional dynamics within occupational therapy practice, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the theoretical foundations of the discipline while maintaining strong connections to practical applications.
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (awarded for digital teaching resource expertise)
- Chairman of the Audit Committee, Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2012-2013)
- Vice Chairman of Council, Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2011-2012)
- Member of the Merit Award Board, Royal College of Occupational Therapists (2009-2012, 2017-present)
With extensive experience supervising BSc and MSc level dissertation students and supporting conference presentations, Dr. Turner maintains active connections to practitioner development. Her pre-academic career as an NHS occupational therapist who progressed to Assistant Director of Community Services provides substantial clinical grounding that informs her academic leadership. Current practice partnerships include work with a horticultural day centre for people with learning disabilities, demonstrating continued engagement with innovative practice settings.
