Biography

I have been Head of School of Allied Health Professions (AHP) at Keele since 2019. We are a School of 60 academics from physiotherapy, radiography, exercise scientist, prosthetics and orthotics and podiatry backgrounds working with ~ 800 pre and post-registration students, from Foundation year to doctoral, including professional doctoral candidates.

I first joined the academic team at Keele initially as a Lecturer-Practitioner, concurrently working at a Staffordshire NHS Trust and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2012. I have since undertaken various School roles including Programme Director for the BSc Hons Physiotherapy Programme and School Director of Education.

I am currently completing an NIHR Clinical Academic funded Doctorate and have been the Chair of the Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent AHP Faculty since 2020, where we are undertaking several AHP workforce workstreams; return to practice, over 55’s retention, international recruitment, support workforce career progression, including a particular focus on AHP transition from student to practitioner, optimising preceptorship.

Having worked clinically for 15 years, latterly as a Clinical Specialist Rheumatology Physiotherapist, my clinical area of interest is patients with inflammatory MSK conditions, in particular, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Rheumatoid arthritis.

I have presented my work at national and international conferences and continue to be involved in national and regional-related research projects.

I am current Chair of the Staffordshire Stoke on Trent Allied Health Professional (AHP) Faculty and Co-Chair of the Midlands Regional AHP Faculty.

Research and scholarship

Having successfully been awarded an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship, I am exploring the role of physiotherapy in the management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica using a mixed methods approach for my doctoral studies. Whilst previously completing an MPhil, I undertook a randomised controlled trial into the conservative management of hand therapy approaches in rheumatoid arthritis.

I have presented both my clinical and educational research at the World Congress of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy UK, American College of Rheumatology, European League against Rheumatism, British Society of Rheumatology and Midlands Rheumatology Society conferences over the past 20 years. I continue to be involved in national and regional rheumatology research projects.

Research themes

  • Inflammatory MSK conditions
  • Rehabilitation
  • Exercise
  • Self-management

Teaching

I teach across several faculty undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, am an academic mentor to students in the School, and I supervise research UG and PG dissertations for AHP students. I was joint course Director of ASPIRE; an inter-disciplinary PG rheumatology programme run with colleagues in the School of Nursing and Midwifery for 15 years.

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Guly CM, Hill CL, Hoon EA, Mackie S, O'Brien AV, Watts RA, Robson JC. 2022. Patient Perceptions of Physical Activity After a Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis: Analysis of Multinational Qualitative Data. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 99-106, vol. 74(1). link> doi>
  • Muller S, O'Brien A, Helliwell T, Hay CA, Gilbert K, Mallen CD, Busby K, PMRGCAuk. 2018. Support available for and perceived priorities of people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: results of the PMRGCAuk members' survey 2017. Clin Rheumatol, 3411-3418, vol. 37(12). link> doi> full text>
  • O'Brien AV, Jones L, Turner A, Tawney L, Baxter S, Johnson CD, Owen P, Dudley R. 2016. Understanding and Maximising Leadership in Pre-registration Healthcare Curricula: Research Report September 2015. link> full text>
  • Bosworth A, Cox M, O'Brien A, Jones P, Sargeant I, Elliott A, Bukhari M. 2015. Development and Validation of a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other Rheumatic Conditions. Curr Rheumatol Rev, 1-7, vol. 11(1). link> doi>
  • Heine PJ, Williams MA, Williamson E, Bridle C, Adams J, O'Brien AV, Evans D, Lamb SE, SARAH Team. 2012. Development and delivery of an exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: Strengthening and stretching for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (SARAH) trial. Physiotherapy., 122-130, vol. (2):(98).
  • Hewlett S, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Richards P, Almeida C. 2008. Rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK: standards, challenges and solutions. Rheumatology (Oxford), 1025-1030, vol. 47(7). link> doi>
  • Hewlett S, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Richards P, Almeida C. 2008. Rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK: standards, challenges and solutions. Rheumatology (Oxford), 1025-1030, vol. 47(7). link> doi>
  • Culver M and Chadwick A. 2005. Internet information on rheumatoid arthritis: An evaluation. Musculoskeletal Care, 33-43.
  • O'Brien AV, Jones P, Mullis R, Mulherin D, Dziedzic K. 2006. Conservative hand therapy treatments in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology., 577-583.
  • Almeida C, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Hewlett S. 2006. Current provision of rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in the UK. Rheumatology (Oxford), 868-873, vol. 45(7). link> doi>
  • Chadwick A. 2004. A review of the history of hand exercises in rheumatoid arthritis. Musculoskeletal Care, 29-39, vol. 1(2).
  • Stevenson K, Chadwick AV, Hunter SM. 2004. National survey of lecturer-practitioners in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy, 139-144. doi>

Chapters

  • O'Brien A. Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In Nursing Older People With Arthritis and Other Rheumatological Conditions - Perspectives in Nursing Management and Care for Older Adults. (12 vols.). Springer. doi> link>
  • O'Brien AV and Backman C. 2010. Inflammatory arthritis. In Rheumatology - Evidence-based Practice for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. Dziedzic K and Hammond A (Eds.). Edinburgh,: Elsevier.
  • Chadwick A. 1998. Osteoarthritis. In Rheumatological Physiotherapy,. David C and Lloyd J (Eds.). London: Mosby Publications..
  • Chadwick A. 1998. Vasculitides. In Rheumatological Physiotherapy. David C and Lloyd J (Eds.). London: Mosby Publications..
  • O'Brien AV. Overview of physiotherapy. In Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology. (4th ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Conference proceedings

  • Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'Brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2020. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A MULTINATIONALQUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 86, vol. 59). link> doi>
  • Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2019. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF MULTINATIONAL QUALITATIVE DATA. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES (p. 1183, vol. 78). link> doi>
  • O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Thomas MJ, Mallen CD. 2019. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF UK PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA? FINDINGS FROM A QUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 30, vol. 58). link>
  • O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Lawton S, Whittle R, Mason E, Mallen CD. World Congress of Physiotherapy 2017 - Cape Town, South Africa. Current physiotherapy practice and assessment in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a UK cross-sectional survey..
  • O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Lawton S, Whittle R, Mason E, Mallen CD. World Congress of Physiotherapy 2017 - Cape Town, South Africa. Current physiotherapy practice and assessment in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a UK cross-sectional survey..
  • O'Brien AV, Torney L, Baxter S, Johnson CD, Taylor A, Owen P, Dudley R, Turner A. From student recruitment to graduation: How are we developing the Physiotherapy leaders of the future in the West Midlands? Torney L., Baxter S., Johnson, D., Taylor, A., Owen, P., Dudley, R., Turner A., & Jones, L.
  • Bukhari M, Bosworth A, Cox M, O'Brien A, Jones P, Sargeant I, Elliott A. 2014. MODIFICATION OF A VALIDATED PATIENT-REPORTED EXPERIENCE MEASURE TOOL FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FOR USE IN OTHER RHEUMATIC CONDITIONS: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (pp. 93-94, vol. 53). link>
  • Mallen CM, Helliwell T, O'Brien AV, Mackie S. 2014. Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
  • Bosworth A, Cox M, Johnstone G, Shah P, O'Brien AV, Jones P, Sargeant I, Bukhari M. Development of patient-reported experience measures for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a pilot study. Rheumatology (p. i90, vol. Suppl 1,).
  • Williams MA, Heine P, McConkey C, Lord J, Dosanjh S, Williamson E, Adams J, Underwood M, Lamb S, SARAH trial team. SARAH: Strenghthening and stretching for people with rheumatoid arthritis of the hands: a randomised controlled trial. Rheumatology (p. i31, vol. Suppl 1).
  • O'Brien AV, Bukhari M, Jones P, Sargeant I, Cox M, Elliot A, Bullock S, O'Brien AV, Bosworth A. Validation Of a Patient Reported Experience Measure In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism.
  • Bukhari M, Shah P, Kitas G, Cox M, Nye A, O'Brien AV, Jones P, Sargeant I. Commissioner quality Metrics in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Impact on clinical practice and quality of care. Rheumatology (p. iii131, vol. 3).
  • O'Brien AV, Bucher C, Rimington L, Iwaszko M, Andrews MA. The changing face of modern undergraduate physiotherapy education: the Keele University in Staffordshire (UK) new curriculum framework. Physiotherapy (vol. S1).
  • O'Brien AV, Hewlett S, Clarke B, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Almeida C. 2007. What inspires junior health professionals to become rheumatology specialists? A survey questionnaire. RHEUMATOLOGY (pp. I154-I155, vol. 46). link>
  • O'Brien AV, Hewlett S, Clarke B, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Almeida C. What inspires junior health professionals to become rheumatology specialists? – A survey questionnaire. Rheumatology (p. i 154, vol. (1)).
  • O'Brien AV, Jones P, Mullis R, Mulherin D, Dziedzic K. 2006. Conservative hand therapy treatments in rheumatoid arthritis--a randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford) (pp. 577-583, vol. 45). link> doi>
  • Chadwick A, Thwaites C, Meir P, Ryan S. 2005. Educational collaboration at its best - The Staffordshire experience. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES (p. 589, vol. 64). link>
  • Chadwick AV, Simpson CS, Murray K, Spicer J, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Mullis R, Dziedzic K. 2004. CONSERVATIVE HAND THERAPY TREATMENTS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) - A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 14, vol. 43). link>
  • Chadwick AV, Simpson C, Murray K, Spicer J, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Dziedzic K. 2002. Associations between impairment and activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM (p. S557, vol. 46). link>
  • Chadwick AV, Simpson C, Murray K, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Dziedzic K. Associations between impairment and activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism (p. S 557, vol. 9).

Supervision

MSc and BSc Student Projects since 2000, Professional Doctoral candidates from 2023.

Collaborations and grants awards

  • £10,000 PMRGCAuk Charity – Lead applicant and Principle Investigator for inter-disciplinary national funding bid: A study to co-design an information /exercise leaflet to enhance physical activity for people living with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. June 2022
  • £100,000 Staffordshire Stoke on Trent AHP Faculty Workstream Projects Sept 21 – Health Education England (HEE) (West Midlands)
  • £63,000 HEE funding for Clinical Placement Expansion Programme (CPEP) - Sept 2021
  • £10,000 HEE Radiography (Diagnostic Imaging) bid – Jan 2021 – Workforce Project Lead
  • £72,000 HEE Radiography (Diagnostic Imaging) bid – Nov 2020 Simulation for AHP Students
  • £100,000 Health Education England Placement expansion bid with Clinical Partners, UHNM and MPFT NHS Foundation Trusts, and Royal Wolverhampton NHS Foundation Trust. July 2020
  • £1,000 Robert Williams Award – Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (2017)
  • £400,000 – NIHR Clinical Doctoral Fellowship funding (2015-2018)
  • £34,434 Arthritis Research Campaign – Education Sub-Committee (2005) “Standards, barriers and solutions for undergraduate rheumatology education for nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK” (Ref 16503)
  • £20,000 Arthritis Research Campaign – Education Sub-Committee (2003) – Teaching the Teachers Conference – 2004
  • £13,000 Arthritis Research Campaign – Education Sub-Committee (2002) – Provision of rheumatology education for nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the United Kingdom
  • £1,000 Birmingham Branch of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (1999)

Scholarship

More recent funded pedagogic research included an exploration of how Universities develop leadership within pre-registration healthcare programmes in the West Midlands. I have also evaluated with students via mixed methods the role of modelling (patient simulation) in UG student learning.

I have published five chapters in rheumatology textbooks, most recently writing a chapter on Polymyalgia Rheumatica for a new Nursing textbook entitled “Nursing older people with arthritis and other rheumatological conditions” and have ventured into Podcasting as an invited speaker for MDTea https://thehearingaidpodcasts.org.uk/mdtea-2/ Polymyalgia Rheumatica.

Citizenship

I am an approved external examiner for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. I am a member of the Health and Care Professions Council, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the British Health Professionals in Rheumatology and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I have chaired Best Practice Award Presentations on behalf of the British Society of Rheumatology, professional and regulatory health professional and Nursing validation panels/ approval events on behalf of the Health and Care Professions Council, and Internal Quality Audits for Keele University.

School of Allied Health Professions
MacKay Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG

Enquiries:
AHP Placements Team: sahp.practiceplacements@keele.ac.uk
Postgraduate Course Admin Team: sahp.postgraduate-admin@keele.ac.uk
Undergraduate Course Admin Team: sahp.admin@keele.ac.uk