This conference is hosted by the Harris Centre, University of Liverpool. We thought it would be helpful to introduce ourselves so you know our background and can recognise us on the day.
Dr Angharad Care is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Harris Research Centre, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, University of Liverpool. Dr Care has been involved in preterm birth prevention research and clinical practice for over a decade and has published manuscripts, book chapters and media articles on this topic.
Dr Laura Goodfellow is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Harris Research Centre, Liverpool Women’s Hospital, University of Liverpool. Dr Goodfellow has led the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) study into preterm prelabour rupture of membranes under 23 weeks’ gestation, which forms the basis of our opening session. Dr Goodfellow’s MD focused on the role of the vaginal microbiota in recurrent early preterm birth and she is now also building upon this by investigating the interaction between yeasts, bacteria and recurrent early preterm birth.
Dr Gent is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Dr Gent’s primary research interest is multiple pregnancies, specifically prediction and prevention of preterm birth. Dr Gent is currently undertaking my MD exploring the vaginal microbiome and metabolome and its associations with spontaneous preterm birth in twins.
Kim is PA to our head of department, and all round expert on the department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool and a fabulously organised person. Kim has been working in the department for over 20 years, and tells us that she loves working here with a great team. We love her too!
Karen is the preterm birth MDT co-ordinator for Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. Karen plays a key role in keeping us all on track.
Dr Ffion Jones is an obstetric registrar working at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Dr Jones is currently undertaking a 2 year clinical research fellowship working as the regional preterm birth clinical fellow for Cheshire & Merseyside, working closely with other local units across the region to ensure quality and consistent care across the strategic clinical network and local maternity system. Dr Jones am also undertaking a Masters degree in Clinical Leadership & Management to complement this work.
Dr Elizabeth Medford is an Obstetric Registrar and Clinical Research Fellow in Preterm Birth at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. Dr Medford is currently undertaking two research studies which explore the potential of quantitative cervical stiffness assessments in high-risk obstetric populations including patients at high risk for preterm birth and patients undergoing induction of labour.
Gemma is the Lead Midwife for Preterm birth in Cheshire & Mersey, with a keen interest in preterm birth and improving outcomes for women and their families, especially those living in deprivation. Prior to midwifery my education and interests included women’s health and wellbeing and the factors that influence health outcomes. This has now come full circle, as these are often risk factors for preterm birth, allowing me the opportunity to support families, implement change and develop services in this field.
Dr Roberts was appointed as a Consultant in Obstetrics & Fetal Medicine to the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust in 2000. Dr Roberts has had a career-long special interest in prenatal diagnosis, preterm birth prevention and clinical governance. Dr Roberts has been a contact reviewer on the Cochrane antenatal corticosteroids review until recently and was chief investigator for the AMIPROM trial – a RCT on amnioinfusion in very early preterm premature rupture of membranes. Dr Roberts currently chairs thevCheshire and Mersey Preterm Birth Network, a consortium of clinicians delivering Saving Babies Lives compliance and improved outcomes in a region with high rates of social deprivation. System-wide roles include CQC National Professional Advisor for Maternity and Clinical Director for the Cheshire & Mersey ICB/LMNS Women’s Health Programme. Dr Roberts is committed to achieving the best outcomes for birthing people and their babies by promoting a holistic approach and providing evidence based care
Dr Sharp is an academic obstetrician with an interest in fetal medicine and complex pregnancies. His main clinical and research interests include preterm birth, multiple pregnancy and fetal growth restriction. Dr Sharp is the Director of Research, Development and Innovation at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and an investigator on the Wellcome Trust funded birth cohort Children Growing Up in Liverpool and Civic Data Cooperative data linkage initiative.
