We are delighted to announce that Prof. Pauline Walsh has been appointed as a Non Executive Director.
Pauline is well known to the Trust, having served on the Trust Board as an Associate Non-Executive Director.
She is a former Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele University.
After qualifying as a nurse in 1984, Professor Walsh practiced in a range of acute specialties before moving into education as a nurse tutor at Gloucestershire School of Nursing for a year before going on to do her teaching qualification at Cardiff University. Following this she moved to Wolverhampton University where she developed interests in healthcare ethics and professional practice.
Professor Walsh’s experience in curriculum development, placement learning and clinical assessment led to her pioneering the role of placement facilitator to promote learning in clinical practice. She moved to Keele in 2007 as a Senior Lecturer to lead undergraduate programmes prior to taking over as Head of the School of Nursing & Midwifery in 2010. During this time, she developed further research interests in simulated learning and developing resilience in students.
In 2018 she took up post as Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of \Medicine and Health Sciences becoming a member of the university executive team. During this time she led the development of a number of new programmes across the faculty resulting in significant growth in student numbers. Professor Walsh has a strong commitment to excellence and quality which has been integral to the faculty’s success.
In 2020 she became an associate NED with the trust to provide academic support and enhance the links with Keele. In December 2023 Professor Walsh retired from her substantive role at Keele and is now an emeritus professor thus giving her more time to undertake her new role as a NED.
Pauline said
“I am delighted to be able to continue to make a real contribution to the Trust’s ongoing success in this new role.
“The partnership between Keele University and Combined Healthcare is something that is deeply valued by both organisations and makes a massive contribution to the local community and health and care system. I look forward to playing my part in seeing that partnership continue to develop and grow.”
Commenting on Pauline’s appointment, Trust Chair David Rogers said:
“We are delighted to welcome Pauline to this new role. Her contribution on the Trust Board has been immense ever since she joined us and I have no doubt that this appointment will enable us to go from strength to strength.”