University of Cumbria Appoints New Visiting Professors to Strengthen Healthcare Education

The University of Cumbria has appointed two highly experienced healthcare professionals as visiting professors in a move aimed at strengthening its Institute of Health and supporting the future development of healthcare education and leadership.

Dr Karen Deeny and Dr Sarina Beacher have joined the university’s Institute of Health, which operates across campuses in Cumbria, Lancashire and London. The appointments form part of the university’s continuing commitment to training the next generation of nurses, paramedics, midwives and allied health professionals.

The Institute of Health is recognised as a major provider of undergraduate, postgraduate and professional development programmes for healthcare workers throughout the UK. University officials said the addition of the two visiting professors would bring valuable expertise and practical experience to both students and staff.

Dr Karen Deeny brings more than four decades of experience across healthcare, education and social care systems. She has held senior leadership positions within the NHS and currently serves as a non-executive director for both University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Beginning her career as a speech and language therapist, Dr Deeny later specialised in healthcare improvement, leadership development and organisational transformation. She has also worked as a researcher, lecturer and executive coach, focusing heavily on improving patient care and supporting healthcare teams through compassionate leadership.

Speaking after the announcement, Dr Deeny said she was “honoured and delighted” to take on the role and praised the university’s mission to transform lives through learning, research and professional practice.

Dr Sarina Beacher also joins the university with extensive experience in healthcare leadership and mental health nursing. After qualifying as a mental health nurse in the late 1980s, she spent around 30 years working in senior NHS nursing roles across England and Scotland.

Alongside her leadership experience, Dr Beacher has specialised in psychological therapies and trauma support. Since 2022, she has continued working as a cognitive behavioural therapist supporting organisations including Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and local schools.

Her academic interests include mental health, ethnographic research and clinical leadership, areas she hopes to further develop during her time with the university.

Dr Beacher praised the University of Cumbria for its strong sense of community and commitment to providing opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.

Professor Karen Stansfield, Dean of the university’s Institute of Health, welcomed the appointments and said both women would bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the academic community.

She added that their combined experience across healthcare, leadership and public sector organisations would create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation and professional development within the university and beyond.

The appointments come as the University of Cumbria continues expanding its role in healthcare education and research, with increasing investment in medical training, nursing education and professional partnerships across the Northwest. 

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