Sara Eastburn

Sara Eastburn is the Acting Head of the Department of Allied Health Professions, Sport and Exercise in the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield. She is also a member of the Centre for Applied Research in Health. A physiotherapist by training with a background in cardiovascular and respiratory care, she has held key leadership roles since joining the university in 2006, including Head of Division, School Director of Academic Quality and Professional Governance, and currently Acting Head of Department since 2021.

Her research interests span healthcare education, assessment and feedback, rehabilitation, wound care, interprofessional collaboration, and qualitative methodologies. She has contributed to projects on the impact of digital technology in early childhood, homelessness and health, outdoor spaces during the pandemic, and competency frameworks in health and social care.

The trends in her recent publications show a strong focus on qualitative and longitudinal methods, particularly in understanding human behavior, education, and health outcomes. Her work often intersects with policy and practice, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Chartered Manager (MCMI)
• Partner with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Extensive experience as an external examiner

Sara Eastburn is actively involved in research supervision and accepts PhD students. She has contributed to collaborative research projects and presentations, including a 2024 oral presentation on housing and healthcare staff retention. While no specific grants are mentioned, her sustained research output and leadership roles indicate active engagement in academic and professional communities. She is not involved in part-time roles and remains an active faculty member.

She is affiliated with the Centre for Applied Research in Health and has collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across institutions, focusing on improving healthcare delivery, education, and patient outcomes through evidence-based practice and policy-relevant research.