Debra is educated to Masters Level in Public Health Nutrition, working in the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work. In 2010 she was awarded membership as an Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) with the Association for Nutrition, which was upgraded to Registered Public Health Nutritionist (RNutr) in January 2014. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at The University of Manchester in 2008 and went on to study Nutrition at the University of Chester.
Debras current role includes project management of clinical nutrition trials in people with cancer or intestinal failure with data collection using surveys and body composition measures. Nutrition research projects have included interventions with nutritional oral sip-feeds and the management of literature searching and Cochrane reviews. Recent work involves management of a James Lind Alliance project for setting research priorities in Malnutrition and nutritional screening.
From 2009 - 2012 Debra worked for Sheffield Hallam University as a Research Assistant where her roles included work on the design, delivery and evaluation of the 'BeActive' Project; a community based physical activity programme, evaluation and analysis of the citywide 'Sheffield lets change4life' (SLC4L) programme, contribution to the design and delivery of an evaluation programme for "food for life" run by NHS Lincolnshire and aiding in a project focusing on improving healthy living in children attending BESD schools. Alongside this Debra was also involved in work with Paddlers4Life, an organisation supporting dragonboat racing for women who have or who are recovering from breast cancer. These projects mainly concentrated on the delivery of a service/information that was used to illicit a behaviour change, which could positively impact on health.
Prior to her employment at Sheffield Hallam, Debra worked in the NHS on a 'Be Well' service, aiding in the promotion of healthy lifestyles in deprived areas of Lancaster. This included work with lyphoedema patients, ex-offenders and young mothers via delivery of cooking sessions and weight management courses. Debra also worked with NHS North Lancashire and liaised with other health professionals from Lancashire county council, Lancashire effectiveness service and Lancashire healthy schools, whilst completing her MSc dissertation.
Debra's previous work experiences have revolved around community health and wellbeing, weight loss interventions and nutritional impacts on lifestyle. She is extremely passionate about nutrition, healthy foods and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Her main areas of interest are healthy foods and recipes, promotion of healthy lifestyles in both adults and children, and the impact of diet on health.