A nursing professor at Ulster University and, until recently, Dean of Medical School Development at Magee. He has 16 years’ experience in general and psychiatric practice and was Chief Nurse for the Southern Health and Social Services Board. He chairs the Inspire Charity and is on Patient and Client Council’s Research Committee. He is also a Trustee of the Alzheimer’s Society UK. He has Fellowships from five prestigious academic bodies and was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his work on health and community. He received the Outstanding Achievement Award by the RCN and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Institute of Psychiatry in London.
In 2019 he was named one of the 70 most influential nurses in the 70 year history of the NHS. He has honorary doctoral degrees from Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Maribor, Slovenia. His research interests are patient quality and safety and the healthcare workforce.