The University of Roehampton London has appointed Hannah Cadogan as Lecturer in Nursing within the School of Life and Health Sciences, becoming one of the UK’s first nurse lecturers to use their lived experience of serious mental illness in teaching.
As a Lecturer in Nursing, Hannah will join the education team to teach knowledge and skills that draw on both her Palliative Care nursing experience and her lived experience of mental illness, helping students explore perspectives of being a patient and a nurse.
Prior to Lecturing Hannah was a Palliative Care Nurse at St Luke's Hospice Harrow & Brent since 2020. Hannah began nursing in 2007, however left the profession after being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a condition which affects mood and how a person interacts with others. After completing a Return to Practice course, Hannah returned to nursing after a 12 year hiatus, determined to be open about her lived experience of mental illness to educate nursing students, becoming one of the only nursing lecturers to do this in the UK.
Hannah previously worked with the University of Roehampton London as a Service User representative, providing consultation on curriculum development prior to her new role. Outside of her role, Hannah is a member of the Royal College of Nursing and speaks openly about mental health within the healthcare and healthcare educations arenas.
Commenting on her appointment, Hannah Cadogan, Lecturer in Nursing, said: "The University of Roehampton London continues to play a leading role in nursing education, as demonstrated by their recent opening of their Mary Seacole Health Innovation Centre. By sharing my unique personal experience as a patient and a nurse, I hope to deepen the knowledge of the next generation of nurses and inspire them to give the best care possible for their future patients."
Paul Newcombe, Director of Nurse Education at the School of Life and Health Sciences said: "As a lecturer who wears both the hat of a nurse and someone with lived experience, Hannah 's life story is truly inspirational. Her experience of serious mental illness and UK health services provides a unique and valuable perspective which will help our nursing students to provide the highest standards of care. Her willingness to share this insight with the future nursing workforce is an amazing opportunity and we are very lucky to have Hannah join the team."