Dr Karen Adams joined the University in 2002 and is Head of Post-Registration, Business and Enterprise.  She leads in the development and management of health-focused post registration provision in the School and promotes the marketing, recruitment and retention of this provision.  Prior to this she held the position of Course Leader for MSc Public Health Nursing Practice within the University, from 2008-14.  Dr Adams leads the Pg Certificate in Leadership & Management which attracts both health and social care professionals and she is also involved in the delivery of the pre-registration nursing curriculum, contributing in particular to leadership and management and research methods modules.  Karen also acts as personal tutor to those preparing for a mentor role.

Beginning her career as a General Nurse, and later moving into the field of midwifery in Wakefield and Pontefract, Dr Adams went on to qualify as a Health Visitor and Practice Teacher working in positions across Pontefract, Leeds, Bradford and SSAFA in Germany.  She is a member of the UKSC (United Kingdom Standing Conference) which represents public health nurse educators nationally, and is a member of the North England Health Visitor Research Group.

Dr Adams was awarded Fellowship status by the Institute of Health Visiting in 2015 and the title of Queen’s Nurse in 2013.

Dr Adams doctoral studies focused on how efficiency driven health care systems impact upon professional identity and teaching and learning roles.  The title of her study was 'A Juggling Act:  A socio-material analysis of the role and identity of practice teachers in the UK NHS'.

• Public health nursing
• Practice education