Rate My Professor Kim Stuart

Dr. Kim Stuart is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Curriculum Lead for Allied Health Professions (AHP) Professional Development at Coventry University, within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health. As AHP Professional Development Lead, she works closely with Health Education England, health and social care employers across England, professional bodies, and allied health professionals to develop new education pathways and apprenticeships that are fit for purpose and deliver the skills, knowledge, and behaviours needed for high-quality person-centred care. In collaboration with the University of Salford, Coventry University was selected by NHS England to co-lead the development of nationally recognised allied health profession-specific training programmes for healthcare workers, addressing significant challenges such as workforce retention and the lack of clear career progression structures in the sector. Dr. Stuart is also Head of Health Professions at Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Dr. Stuart's contributions to advancing practice and promoting equity in allied health professions are notable. She served as Project Lead and primary author of the report 'Re-imagining advancing practice: speech and language therapy,' guiding a project team through a sprint design methodology across collaborate, innovate, and accelerate phases. This work formulated principles for advancing practice inclusive of all sectors and nations, aligned with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists Career Development Framework, and embedded lenses of social justice, social capital, and health equity to tackle determinants of health. Key domains include communication, dysphagia, and advocacy. She was a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the Royal College of Occupational Therapists' 'Early career principles and standards for occupational therapists.' Her research outputs include co-authoring the conference poster 'Being there in a crisis: increasing access to the paramedic profession for BME communities' (2022), which promotes ethnic diversity based on an asset-based community development model to reduce health inequalities, and 'Filling the paramedic gap' (2023). Additionally, she co-authored a study exploring the leadership journeys of Coventry University occupational therapy graduates, benchmarking career progression and identifying disparities for Black and Minority Ethnic graduates, informing plans for a Midlands leadership network founded on allyship principles.