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Gillian Heard
Head of Nursing
- Phone
- +44 (0)1473 338106
- School/Directorate
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health
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Gill is Head of Nursing at the University of Suffolk.
Gill completed her BSc (Hons) in Adult Nursing at the Dundee Institute of Technology (now University of Abertay) in 1993. Following this, she worked in Oncology at Ninewells Hospital Dundee then specialised further in Cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London where she undertook a Post-Graduate Diploma in Cancer Care.
Over the years Gill has worked at Ipswich Hospital as a staff nurse in Cancer Care, Trust wide as Acute and Chronic Pain Management Sister, completing an MSc in Pain Management at the University of Wales College of Medicine. Gill then worked as a Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Nurse before undertaking the role of Lead Cancer Nurse/Matron for the Oncology Unit, as well as lead for End of Life/Palliative Care, Outpatients, Pathology and Diagnostic Imaging. Gill moved into Nurse Education and joined the University of Suffolk in 2018 and undertook a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice and obtaining a fellowship HEA.
Gill's expertise lies in all aspects of Adult Nursing, although key areas include leadership and management, pain management, cancer, palliative and end of life care. She is currently leading on the running of a Cancer MDT Co-ordinator 6 week course for external participants funded by the Cancer Alliance. Gill is also co-designing and developing a Postgraduate module Living well with Cancer with the plan to commence in September 2021.
Gill’s research interests include living with and beyond cancer in considering the patient experience and how quality of life might be supported. As well as this exploring end of life care and considering different pedagogical approaches, with regard to preparing student nurses in caring for patients at this time.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Fellowship HEA
- UKONS