21 August 2007

New Dean appointed to School of Nursing and Midwifery

Professor Margaret C Smith, Director of Nursing for Glasgow/Clyde Acute Services has been appointed Dean of The School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Dundee. Ms Smith will take up the post at the end of November.

One of Scotland’s most senior nursing leaders, Margaret Smith brings a strong clinical and management track record to the post and is recognised for her commitment to excellence in nursing education and as a great facilitator of research in the health service.

Margaret comes to Dundee from Glasgow where she has held a number of increasingly senior Director of Nursing posts within the NHS. She is currently Director of Nursing in a division with an income of £1.45 billion, 28,000 staff (including 11,000 nurses and midwives), delivering services from 15 hospital sites with 5,000 beds. In this post she has been very influential in integrating nursing with the Clinical Reference Facility and has recently completed a review of Research Nurses across Glasgow/Clyde. Her commitment to the educational development of nursing standards has been recognised by Glasgow University who awarded her an honorary professorship in 2006.

A registered nurse and midwife with a Master of Business Administration, Margaret has worked closely with universities chiefly in the West of Scotland to achieve excellence in education, practice and research. She has developed a strong network of alliances and external relationships within clinical, management and nursing education circles in Scotland and the UK.

She has served on a score of public bodies and committees including chairing the working group charged with developing a strategy for Cancer Nursing in Scotland in 2004; acting as Vice Chair of the UK University Trusts Executive Directors Forum; serving on the group for the implementation of a joint school of nursing between Glasgow University and Glasgow Caledonian University and is currently Chair of Modernising Nursing Careers Group (Scotland) and Vice Chair of Nursing Midwifery Advisory Forum Scotland.

Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, Professor Irene Leigh welcomed the appointment: "We are delighted to have one of Scotland’s most senior nursing leaders join the School at this significant time in its development. Margaret is known as a leader of integrity, drive and determination. Her formidable clinical and management experience coupled with her reputation for excellence in nursing standards and educational development will drive the School’s agenda linking practice and education. Her appointment will facilitate and direct nursing research and will ensure nursing education in Dundee is closely linked with professional practice at every level."

Professor Leigh also paid tribute to Heather Marr for her sterling contribution as Acting Dean. "Heather’s commitment to the School and her extensive experience and knowledge of nursing education and quality issues is greatly valued. She has led the School well as Acting Dean and will continue in this capacity until the end of November."

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Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk