Kris Birney

Kris Birney is a Senior Lecturer in Health Science and Surgical Care and Course Director for the BSc (Hons) Operating Department Practice at Canterbury Christ Church University, based in the AHP and Dental Practice/SIM unit where he teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules.

His educational background includes:

• MSc in Health and Wellbeing
• Dip HE in Operating Department Practice
• Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)

Mr Birney's expertise centers on perioperative systems, with 16 years of NHS clinical experience as an Operating Department Practitioner. He specializes in trauma and non-elective surgery reconfiguration projects, focusing on optimizing patient pathways from preoperative assessment through postoperative recovery in acute surgical environments. His work integrates clinical practice with academic instruction to advance Operating Department Practice standards.

As Course Director, he leads curriculum development for the BSc program and serves as Module Lead across undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with plans to pursue doctoral research to further contribute to surgical care education.