Plymouth University appoints new Executive Dean for Health and Human Sciences

Plymouth University has appointed Professor Patricia Livsey as Executive Dean of its new Faculty of Health and Human Sciences.

Patricia, a nurse by background, will provide strategic leadership of the Faculty, which comprises three academic and practice-based Schools: Health Professions; Nursing and Midwifery, and Psychology.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Professor Livsey to the role of Executive Dean. We were deeply impressed by her focus on partnership working with the NHS and the way she plans to build links with our own Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry to help address health inequalities in the South West.”

Professor Livsey began her career as a paediatric staff nurse in Cumbria and held various positions including Ward Sister and Health Visitor.

Securing her PhD and embarking on an academic career, Patricia was Head of Department of Child Health and then Associate Dean for Post-Registration and Postgraduate Studies with City University, and is currently Director of Nursing at Liverpool John Moores with 5,000 students and a budget of £20 million.

She has an outstanding track record of partnership building, with extensive experience of health commissioning, and has successfully enhanced research and the student experience across teams.

Professor Livsey said: “I am looking forward to joining Plymouth University given it offers the full spectrum of health care programmes underpinned by world class research and professional practice. As such, we can work across traditional boundaries and deliver on the healthcare needs of the future. I want us to build a Centre of Excellence in the South West that is pioneering in its leadership of health and human sciences relevant on the world stage.”