Katie Berger is the first Chief Healthcare Scientist at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, a role she combines with being the Trust’s Pathology Practice Educator and Quality Manager.
She has worked in a variety of roles in pathology since 1989, initially within the virology laboratory and more recently in roles within training and quality management.
In her current role she works closely with the University of Staffordshire, coordinating placements for biomedical science students and overseeing all work-based aspects of the University’s Healthcare Science Apprenticeship Degree.
Katie regularly advocates for University of Staffordshire, speaking passionately about how transformative the partnership with the University and the Healthcare Science program has been in developing the biomedical scientist workforce including being a guest speaker at the annual Apprenticeship Celebration Evening.
Following the launch of the Healthcare Science apprenticeship degree, working alongside Associate Professor Ian Davies, Course Leader for Healthcare Science, Katie won the Advancing Healthcare Award in 2018 for Inspiring the Biomedical Workforce of the future.
The Healthcare Science Apprenticeship Degree has helped public and private pathology services to train, recruit and retain high quality registered scientists.
After initially being developed to address recruitment issues at UHNM, the Healthcare Science Apprenticeship now attracts learners from across the UK.
Katie was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme and educated at St John Fisher Catholic College. She started her first role as a maternity cover Medical Laboratory Assistant after she says her A Levels ‘didn’t go to plan’. She had, however, found her vocation and stayed in virology for 17 years.
Katie has an MSc in Virology from Liverpool John Moores University.
The Award of Honorary Doctor of Science honoris causa (Hon DSc) is bestowed upon Katie in recognition of the role she played as a vanguard and visionary through instigating the development of the Healthcare Science Apprenticeship alongside University of Staffordshire personnel.
The impact of this pioneering new learning opportunity has not only raised the reputation and profile of the University but transformed the delivery of healthcare and helped public and private pathology services to train, recruit and retain high quality registered scientists.
The award also acknowledges Katie’s ambassadorial support and advocacy for the University of Staffordshire.