Professor Joanne Patterson BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, FRCSLT

Personal Statement

Jo Patterson is Professor of Speech and Language Therapy and Associate Head of Research of the School of Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Honorary Professor at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Liverpool University Hospital Foundation Trust. She is a Fellow and Professional Advisor for the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. She leads the Improving Patient Outcomes theme at the Liverpool Head and Neck Centre, which aims to optimise functional outcomes and quality of life in head and neck cancer, with strong collaborations regionally, nationally and internationally (link). Her research programme covers a range of topics, such as; holistic prehabilitation, enhanced recovery, psychosocial adjustment and support models, patient-directed consultations, patient-reported outcome measure development, functional assessments and novel swallowing intervention development. This work spans an array of study designs, with a range of feasibility, pilot and randomised controlled trials.

Jo works in close collaboration with the Liverpool Patient Forum, who provide a strong PPI foundation from research development to dissemination. She is on the board of Trustees for the national Head and Neck UK patient group. She is an Editorial Board member for the journals Clinical Otolaryngology; Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery; International Journal Language and Communication Disorders. Jo was the first SLT to sit on the British Association Head & Neck Oncology Council and currently serves on their Research Committee. She represents SLT on the NIHR Ear Nose and Throat Specialty National Group and set up the STENT (Speech and Language Therapy in ENT) sub-group. Her previous positions include NIHR Training Advocate for SLT and NCRI Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology & Survivorship Group member

Jo is highly committed to increasing research capability and capacity for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Healthcare Professionals (NMAHPs), and expediting the translation of evidenced-based care into clinical practice. She chairs ‘NRICAM’ (NMAHP Research In Cheshire And Merseyside), a collaboration between UoL, Liverpool Health Partners and local Trusts, aspiring to strengthen sustainable partnerships and deliver NMAHP clinical academic leaders of the future. She is a panel member for the NIHR ICA NMAHP Clinical Lecturer / Senior Clinical Lecturer award and has sat on the NIHR HEE NMAHP Post-doctoral Bridging Funding Panel.