Debbie Thackray

Dr. Debbie Thackray is a Principal Teaching Fellow in Physiotherapy at the University of Southampton, leading cardiorespiratory teaching for both BSc and MSc programmes. Her work focuses on simulation-based education to enhance clinical reasoning and prepare students for emergency respiratory duties.

• West Middlesex School of Physiotherapy (1986)
• MSc in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, University College London (1996)

Her research explores clinical reasoning in respiratory physiotherapy, leading to a conceptual model for cardiorespiratory practice. She collaborates with the University of Sydney and has secured educational grants from Health Education England and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

Key awards include the Vice Chancellors Teaching Award (2018), Deans Award for Education (2020), and the University’s Global Initiative Award (2017). She has presented her work at national and international conferences, including the World Congress of Physiotherapy (2017).

• Simulation-based education
• Clinical reasoning in physiotherapy
• Interprofessional training
• Paediatric respiratory placements
• Assessment rubric development
• Emergency respiratory care

Debbie supervises PhD students and leads the Clinical Placement Enhancement Project (CPEP) to improve student readiness for clinical environments.