Faith Gibson

Professor Faith Gibson is a Clinical Professor of Children's and Young People's Cancer Care at the University of Surrey, School of Health Sciences, and holds a joint appointment as Deputy Chief Nurse for Research, Nursing and Allied Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH). She previously held academic roles at London South Bank University and UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.

Education:

• MSc, University of Surrey (1984)
• Doctorate, London South Bank University (2001)
• Registered Nurse, University Hospital, Nottingham (1981)
• Registered Children's Nurse, University Hospital, Nottingham (1986)

Her research focuses on improving the experiences of children and young people undergoing and surviving cancer treatment. Key areas include symptom assessment and management, survivorship care, mental health, nursing workforce development, and equitable access to care for children with learning disabilities or autism. She employs qualitative and participatory research methods, emphasizing the child's voice in healthcare research. Her work has led to the development of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) and interventions like decision aids and digital tools (e.g., chatbots) to support families.

Her recent publications (2024–2025) reflect a strong focus on mental health admissions in pediatric wards, spiritual care in palliative settings, transition to adult services, and the impact of the pandemic on care delivery. These works demonstrate a consistent trend toward patient-centered, mixed-methods research aimed at systemic improvements in pediatric cancer and chronic illness care.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (2007)
• Lifetime Achievement Award, International Society of Paediatric Oncology (2018)
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (2020)

She supervises PhD students, including Helen Pearson and Tara Kerr Eliott, and leads multiple externally funded research projects from NIHR, Children with Cancer UK, Burdett Trust, and NHS England. Her work often involves collaboration across institutions and sectors, including national networks like the Burdett National Transition Nursing Network. She is actively involved in public and patient involvement (PPI), ensuring research is co-designed with families and young people.

Labs and Teams: She leads research teams at the University of Surrey and GOSH, working closely with multidisciplinary professionals, patients, and families. Her projects often involve national collaborations and advisory groups, including parent and youth advisory panels.