Dr Susan Way

Dr Susan Way is Associate Professor of Midwifery in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at Bournemouth University. She is also a Senior Fellow of the HEA and a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives. She started her career as a Midwife and after achieving a teaching qualification taught undergraduate student midwives. Susan was passionate about bringing her clinical practice experience into the classroom and it was at this point she realised the importance of developing strategies to aid students in their application of theory to practice. One way of achieving this was by writing a short book that underpinned the theory of a variety of important midwifery clinical skills. Impact of work After working for several years in a university environment she gained a secondment to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the regulatory body for nurses and midwives. As the Midwifery Education Advisor she was instrumental in the development of the first publication of the NMC midwifery education standards. Susan later secured a full time roll in the organisation and during this time led the project to publish a revised version following a significant public consultation. On returning to the university, she was appointed as the Lead Midwife for Education where she had a significant leadership role in the development, delivery and quality assurance of undergraduate midwifery education. Applying theory to practice in a meaningful way was still important to her and she led two projects implementing student-led clinics that are now having a significant positive impact on student learning. Plans for the future Susan has secured two co-funded PhD studentships to research the clinics, particularly regarding how this innovative learning environment is viewed by the students. She takes every opportunity to raise the profile of midwifery education and have served as the Chair of the Lead Midwife for Education UK Executive and as the Chair of the Royal College of Midwives Board. Being a midwife and an academic has enabled her to combine the two professions she is passionate about. She will continue to use this to enhance the student learning experience that ultimately benefits the care women and their babies receive.