Description
Reference for Helen McIntyreI have known Helen for 20 years in my capacity of Baby Friendly Project Lead Lecturer at Bournemouth University (2004-2024) and Lead Midwife for Education (2021-2024). I am currently the Lead for the National Infant Feeding Network (NIFN) for universities and work as a Professional Officer for UNICEF Baby Friendly.
Helen has been a leading academic in the field of infant feeding for over 20 years, challenging poor practices and inspiring health care practitioners and academics by sharing evidence-based practice at NIFN meetings and by publishing international papers, book chapters and presenting at international conferences. The most recent book chapter in Myles Midwifery (2020) is a seminal text for student midwives globally and speaks for itself.
Having worked in several universities, Helen has demonstrated her commitment to excellence in infant feeding education ensuring teaching and assessment for students (midwives and other interprofessional health-care students) is robust, enabling each university to progress well with Baby Friendly accreditation under her leadership. Recently, I had the privilege of being one of the Baby Friendly Assessors for the University of Leicester where it was clear that Helen’s outstanding leadership had enabled an excellent result for the MSci Midwifery with Leadership programme, resulting in full accreditation for the university. Her experience with teaching and assessing interprofessional students is now enabling her to not only lead on midwifery curricula but also develop curricular in Health visiting at BCU.
Helen’s research has also been important for enhancing excellence in teaching and clinical practice. The findings from her DHSci with subsequent published papers have been instrumental in inspiring national and international colleagues to improve educational practices with a curriculum that repeats and reinforces learning, regular assessment and debriefing following clinical placement. This has been particularly important when teaching evidence-based knowledge and skills, such as encouraging a ‘hands off’ approach to support for breastfeeding women and their babies, that challenges previously held beliefs that ‘hands on’ support is required. The findings from the innovative research project, Snuby and then Snugby™ including securing funding for further research, the trademarking of the product, and her ongoing plans for future research, demonstrates Helen’s commitment to enhance health for mothers and babies both nationally and internationally and is recognised and highly commended.
More recently, Helen has been the external examiner for one of my PhD students. She was selected for her expertise and knowledge in the subject area under investigation and considered to be an excellent examiner ensuring a robust assessment and outcome.
I fully endorse this application for Associate Professor at BCU.
Dr Alison Taylor
National Infant Feeding Lead for Universities - [email protected]
Professional Officer – UNICEF UK Baby Friendly
Recently retired from Bournemouth University November 2024
| Period | 2025 → … |
|---|---|
| Degree of Recognition | National |