Deborah Oconnor

Background

About Deborah Oconnor

I am the Director of Placements and Partnerships in the Faculty of Health and Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. I oversee a team of work-based learning tutors who support each of our four departments within the Health portfolio to ensure high quality, enriching placement experiences for our learners. I work across faculty with academic and professional services colleagues to ensure high-quality practice-based learning experiences for our entire portfolio. I am a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy with 26 years of clinical experience, As an active private Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist my objective is to provide holistic rehabilitation and care to improve quality of life for people with long term conditions. My research interests vary from a specialist interest in Neurological rehabilitation, particularly stroke and with a focus on recovery of the Upper limb. I am also an active researcher in learning and teaching, especially considering work-based learning and in particular, exploring the experiences of staff and students in the practice arena. I have recently completed a research study for The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy which has been used to shape the future of practice-based learning and underpin a new set of guiding placement principles. I am currently collaborating on a three-year, international research project with multi-professional colleagues via a Fellowship with Elon University in North Carolina. I expect the unexpected, I see every day as a learning opportunity and I strive for excellence: for my students, my colleagues, my team and my patients.