Susan Kirk

Overview

Unit Lead - Qualitative Research and Design Unit (M.Res Programme)

Co-lead of the Child Health Research Network

Senior Adviser - NIHR North West Research Design Service

Steering Group Member -  Evidence Synthesis Research Network

Member - North West Children's Palliative Care Network

Associate Editor - BMC Pediatrics

ESRC DTC Pathway Lead - Health and Wellbeing

Biography

Following clinical positions in district nursing, midwifery and health visiting I moved into a research career, firstly at the University of Liverpool and then at the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre at the University of Manchester. Here I conducted a number of studies examining health service organisation, quality improvement, patient safety, inter-agency working and user involvement. During this time I developed an interest in the experiences and support needs of young people with complex healthcare needs and their families. My PhD examined the experience of parenting a child who needs medical technology to sustain their life and how parenting is constructed in this context.

In 2002 I joined the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work in a joint post with the NHS to develop research and research capacity within community nursing. Between 2003 and 2006 I held an NIHR/Health Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship. As part of this fellowship I explored children's and young people's experiences of living with medical technology.  Subsequently I have been leading research relating to family experiences of childhood long-term conditions, disability and palliative care.