Dr Robert McSherry

National Teaching Fellow 2011 "Professor Robert McSherry has been a great asset to students of my cohort and an inspirational mentor to myself" (Masters Student). Over the past 23 years Professor Robert McSherry has successfully combined a clinical and academic career as a registered general nurse (Adult Nursing) and Nurse Teacher (NT) and continues to facilitate frontline health and social care professionals in the pursuit of excellence in practice. Rob has promoted this through championing the concept of 'practice development' (see links below). He encourages individuals to focus on how innovation and change can be facilitated and evaluated by acting in partnership, providing support between clinical practice, education and management. This enables them to increase research utilisation through engaging with and applying the evidence in order to inform and support the delivery of people-centred care. Rob believes excellence in the student learning experience is about inclusivity not exclusivity. Maximising student learning should draw on the knowledge, skills, competencies and ability each individual brings to the learning environment, enabling them to share and learn by utilising the strengths of fellow students and the community of students associated with a cohort. Rob developed the Professional Doctorate in Advancing Practice, one of the first multi-disciplinary doctorates for the University and the country, based upon the principles of practice development. The significance of the programme is in recognising and actively supporting the full diversity of student learning needs. This is achieved by harnessing the strengths of the student cohort in facilitating shared learning through encouraging student support by reflecting on the diversity of professional experience and practice of the students within the cohort community themselves. The introduction of the Student Cohort Community (SCC) is an innovative way of ensuring learning supported by empowering and enabling students to share and learn from and with each other within their cohort. The impact of the SCC has proven to enhance student learning, affording peer support, improved progression and retention. Rob is Professor of Nursing and Practice Development, Enhancing Practice and Innovation Centre for Care, School of Health and Social Care, Teesside University.