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Board Member: Emma-Jane Simpson
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Emma-Jane Simpson

Position: Workforce Vice Chair

Who am I?

I am a Clinical Scientist and Chief Respiratory and Sleep Physiologist in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

I initially studied Physiology at Queen’s University Belfast, and that’s where I first came across Clinical Physiology. As soon as I learned what the career involved, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do. So, I made the jump across the water to start a trainee Clinical Physiologist post at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

The plan was to go for four years… but I ended up staying for eleven. I loved the work, loved the people and loved growing from trainee to Clinical Scientist. It was a fantastic place to train, giving me a broad foundation in all aspects of respiratory and sleep physiology.

After more than a decade in the West Midlands, it was the right time to move back home where I now work in the Southern Trust.

I’m lucky to work in a department that gives me a bit of everything covering respiratory and sleep, as well as the opportunity to develop and implement quality improvement projects - I always have an idea!

A bit about me

I remember attending my first ARTP conference in 2012 as a trainee and being in awe of the experienced physiologists presenting their work. It gave me a real sense of where a career in respiratory and sleep physiology could lead and inspired my ambition to grow within the profession.

When I moved back to Northern Ireland, I initially felt a little isolated as ARTP didn’t have as strong a presence here (thankfully this is changing!). This encouraged me to get involved and I joined the ARTP Sleep and Workforce Committees, and the ARTP NI Taskforce when it formed in 2024. I also have a role in developing the Healthcare Science NI network and was privileged to receive a Rising Star award at the Advancing Healthcare Awards NI this year for my efforts.

IrelandBeach

Outside of work I am a wife and mum to three children- all in primary school so life is busy. You can find me most evenings standing at a football pitch in our lovely Irish weather!

I love to travel and am rarely without the next trip booked. One of the best things about moving back home is being able to spend more time on the beautiful beaches along the Irish coast where we escape to every chance we get.

What would you like to achieve in your new role?

In my role as the Workforce Vice Chair, I hope to promote opportunities for respiratory and sleep physiologists and highlight the benefits of ARTP membership. I want to raise the profile of our profession so that school students exploring career options are aware that respiratory and sleep physiology is an exciting and rewarding path because I wish I had known about it earlier.

At the same time, I am passionate about supporting the development and promotion of advanced roles for physiologists, helping to increase professional autonomy, responsibility, and career progression opportunities within the field.