Professional courses

Dr Barbara Lloyd

Professional Doctorate Pathway

Biomedical Science (DBMS)

Place of Employment and Job Title

Pathology Quality and Governance Manager
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

What made you decide to come to the University of Portsmouth to study the Professional Doctorate?

I heard about the course from Professor David Rogers at the University who encouraged me to apply for a place. Very few universities were offering the Professional Doctorate course at the time I was considering applying.

How did you find the course?

I enjoyed the taught elements of the course and the interaction with students from other health and social care backgrounds. The module on advanced research techniques was especially demanding as I had never come across the subject matter before, working for most of my career in a diagnostic NHS laboratory. I could not have completed the project proposal without the support of the course leader, Professor Graham Mills, and my supervisor, Professor Dave Rogers, as I found this aspect especially demanding. The project work itself was very enjoyable but writing it up took a lot of application and self discipline while working full-time.

What was your project title?

?Introducing Professional Change in Histopathology.?

How do you think this course has helped you to develop your career in your profession?

I think I became a different kind of person whilst doing the course, no longer suited to the demands of operational management but better at working on strategic developments where there is more time to reflect on the impact of change on both patients and staff. A new role was created for me within my organisation which makes better use of my experience and interests which, although the same grade as my previous position of Histopathology Manager, carries less ?hands-on? day-to-day responsibility for the service, meanwhile enabling me to continue working on improving systems and processes across pathology to satisfy the demands of accreditation and regulation in the different areas. I am still available to advise my successors on various issues, such as the Human Tissue Act, but find the role less stressful but equally interesting! An ideal outcome since I am coming up to retirement (3-5 years)!