Heather Skirton

Heather Skirton

Job title: Professor in Health Genetics, School of Nursing and Midwifery (Faculty of Health, Education and Society)
Address: H102, Faculty of Health and Social Work , University of Plymouth, Wellington Road ,
Taunton, Somerset , TA 1 5YD
Telephone: +44 (0)1823 366911
Alternative telephone: +44 (0)1823 366900
Facsimile: +44 (0)1823 366901
Email: heather.skirton@plymouth.ac.uk

Role
As Professor in Applied Health Genetics, my primary focus is research. I am currently involved in two large European studies to develop health professional education in genetics. I supervise both MSc and PHd students. My input into learning and teaching activities is connected mainly with genetics, research methods and ethics.

Qualifications & background

PhD in Health Psychology, University of Exeter, 2000.

MSc in Health Care, Professional Education, University of Exeter, 1996.

Diploma of Psychological Counselling, 1994.

PG Certificate in Health and Social Care Education, 2011.

Professional qualifications:

Registered Genetic Counsellor, 2003

Qualified Midwife, 1980

Registered General Nurse, 1974.

I have been involved in clinical healthcare since 1971. My most recent clinical post was as Nurse Consultant in Genetics from 2000-2004. From 2000-2004 I was co-director of the MSC in genetic counselling at the University of Wales. I joined the University of Plymouth in 2004.

Professional membership

1.European Society for Human Genetics (Member of the Board and Co-Chair of the Genetic Nurses and Counsellors Ad Hoc Accreditation Committee)

2.International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG) Co-Chair Abstract Committee) (President 2005/06)

3. British Society for Human Genetics

4. UK Genetic Counsellor Registration Board member, representing Higher Education sector

5. Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (member of the Genetic Counsellor Training Panel)

6. Royal College of Nursing

Roles on external bodies

1.European Society for Human Genetics
Board member (2010- )
Co-chair of the European Genetic Nurses and Counsellors Ad Hoc Accreditation Committee (2007-present)
Member of the Education Committee 2004-2009.

2. International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG)
Current Co-Chair Conference Abstract Committee (2010- )
President 2005/06
Chair of the Global Connections Committee 2001-2004.
Chair of the Awards and By-Laws Committees, 2006/07
Chair of the Nominations committee 2007/08.
Chair of the 2007 Conference Committee.

3. Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (a constituent group of the British Society for Human Genetics)
Chairman from 1996-2000.

4. Member of the UK Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (2006-present)

5, Genetic Counsellor Training Panel
Member (2005- present)

5. British Society for Human Genetics
Council Member 1997 - 2005.

6. UK Joint Committee on Medical Genetics
A multi-disciplinary professional group formed to advise government and professional bodies on aspects of genetics and education, comprising members from the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Pathologists, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Department of Health and the British Society for Human Genetics.
Chair of the Committee 2003-2006.

Teaching interests

Health genetics

Genetic counselling

Counselling skills

Healthcare ethics

Research methods, particularly qualitative.

Staff serving as external examiners

External examiner

MPhil candidate, University of Hawksbury, Australia.

PhD candidate, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland ( three candidates).

External examiner for the MSC in Genetic Counselling, Cardiff University (2007-2010)

Research interests
Development of competence in genetics by health professionals.

Information needs of parents considering antenatal screening and the professionals offering that screening.

The experiences and needs of individuals who care for a relative or friend with Huntington's disease.

Public understanding of genetics.

Discrimination based on genetic status.

Impact of the use of genetic technology on people with learning disabilities.

Genetic healthcare provision.

Impact of genetic conditions on individuals and families.

Development of learning materials for genetics education of health professionals ( Eurogene project) at www.eurogene.eu

Other research

RECENT SPOKEN PRESENTATIONS

Stefansdottir V, Skirton H, Johansson O.T., Jonsson J. (2011) The use of iPad in genetic counselling.  European Society of Human Genetics Conference, Amsterdam.

Grose J, Frost J, Skirton H, Richardson J. (2011) The Emotional Impact of Caring for People With Neurological Disease and Cognitive Impairment: A meta-ethnography.  British Society of Gerontology conference, Plymouth, UK.

Skirton H (2010)  EUROGENE: a new generation digital library of resources for genetics education. International Society of Nurses in Genetics 2010 scientific conference, Dallas, USA.

Skirton H, Voelckel M.  (2010) Developments in genetic counselling: a European perspective. European Society of Human Genetics Conference, Gotenburg, June 2010.

Paneque M, Sequiros J, Skirton H.  (2010) Quality assessment of genetic counselling process in predictive testing for late-onset disorders: What we know. European Society of Human Genetics Conference, Gotenburg, June 2010.

Stefansdottir V, Johannsson Skirton H, Tryggvadottir L, Tulinius H, Jonsson JJ. (2010)  Linking to a genealogical database and a Cancer Registry to generate comprehensive pedigrees for cancer risk assessment. European Society of Human Genetics Conference, Gotenburg, June 2010.

Peters K, Skirton H, Hale L. (2009)  Using Cognitive Interviewing to Pilot a Survey of Genetic Counseling Clients’ Background, Expectations and Needs. National Society of Genetics Counselors Conference 2009, San Diego, US.

Skirton H, Williams JK, Barnette JJ, Paulsen JS.  (2009) Huntington Disease: Caregivers’ Experiences of Health Services in the United Kingdom and United States.  World Congress on Huntington Disease, Vancouver, Canada.

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

PhD - 5 succesful completions
MSc - 18 succesful supervisees

Grants & contracts

Recent grant-funded projects

Current

EuroGentest2: EU &th Framework funded project to standardise and harmonise genetic testing in Europe. Co-applicant and Work Package 7 leader. http://www.eurogentest.org/

Recent

EuroGentest: EU 6th Framework funded project to standardise and harmonise genetic testing in Europe. Part of project team for Unit 6 - Education. http://www.eurogentest.org/

Eurogene: EC funded project to develop new techniques in provision of electronic educational materials on genetics. http://www.eurogene.eu/

Midwives in Teaching study (MINT) - funded by NMC.

The use of games for teaching in the health professions. Funded by Research Informed Teaching initiative.

Promoting informed choice: provision of appropriate information and support for parents making decisions about antenatal screening for fetal abnormality. Jointly with Dr Owen Barr, University of Ulster. Funded by Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.

HD Carer Survey. Funded by the University of Iowa.

Telling Stories:Understanding Real-Life Genetics. Joint project with University of Glamorgan, funded by Wellcome Trust. People Award to establish a website to educate professionals, based on real stories form families affected by genetic conditions. http://www.geneticseducation.nhs.uk/tellingstories/

Genetics: Screening, Choice and Rights Literature review on antenatal screening choices, jointly with Dr Owen Barr, University of Ulster. Funded by the Foundation for People with Learning Disability.

Additional information

Textbooks

Skirton H, Patch C. (2009) Genetics for the Health Sciences – a handbook for clinical practice. Oxford, Scion Publishing.

Greco K, Prows CA, Skirton H, Williams J, Jones S, Middelton L, Lewis J, Bickford C, Humes YD, Seiler M, Carson-Smith M. (2006) Genetics/Genomics Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice International Society of Nurses in Genetics and American Nurses Association. ISBN- 13: 978-1-55810-234-7.

Skirton H, Patch C and Williams, JK (2005) Applied Genetics In Healthcare – a handbook for specialists. Abingdon, Taylor and Francis.

Skirton H and Patch C (2002) Genetics for healthcare professionals – a lifestage approach. Bios Scientific Publishers, Oxford.

Book chapters

Williams JK and Skirton H (2005) Genomics, family nursing and families across the lifespan. Chapter 18 in Family Health Care nursing: Theory, Practice and Research. Edited by S Hansen, V Gedaly-Duff and J R Kaakinen. F.A. Davis Company.

Skirton H and Patch C (2005) Genetics. Chapter 6.4 in Physiology for Nursing Practice. Hinchcliff, Montague, Herbert and Watson. Third edition. Bailliere Tindall, London.

Skirton H (2003) Outcomes of genetic counselling. Chapter in Encyclopaedia of the Human Genome, edited by David Cooper, Nature publishing Group, London.

Skirton H (2003) Development of the profession of genetic counselling in Europe. Chapter in Encyclopaedia of the Human Genome, edited by David Cooper, Nature publishing Group, London.

Skirton H (1998) Telling the children Chapter 9 in The Genetic Testing of Children, edited by Angus Clarke Bios Scientific Publishers, Oxford.

Links

I have research links with colleagues at the:

College of Nursing, University of Iowa, USA

Yamaguchi University, Japan

Iwate Prefectural University, Japan
University of Bologna, Italy
University of Porto, Portugal
St Luke's College of Nursing, Tokyo, Japan
Iwate Prefectural University, Japan
University of Iceland.

I am part of the Eurogene project www.eurogene.eu