I am a retired general adult nurse and academic. Since qualifying in 1967 I have worked in both NHS and military sectors before becoming a nurse teacher in 1986. Interests developed through experience and specific education include work-based learning (WBL), interdisciplinary learning, reflection and ethical reasoning. Within faculty I was responsible for the design of a suite of WBL modules that utilised professional portfolios as part of a menu for assessment.

I was interested in how interdisciplinary health teams could communicate more effectively with patients with learning difficulties. This was challenged further when a group of students with learning difficulties engaged in a higher education experience. Initially this project attracted internal and external criticism. However, through networking across the World Wide Web I was aware of action research projects utilising alternate portfolios to promote inclusive education and assessment at a university in Kentucky.

The Fellowship enabled me to explore many innovations across two states in the USA. The experience enabled me to be more creative on my return, and my report contributed towards a PhD and a professorship.