Staffordshire University has a long history of providing high quality, progressive higher education for people across Staffordshire, the Midlands, the UK, and the rest of the world. The University has a proven track record in achieving excellence in teaching quality, developing innovative courses and providing opportunities to study in challenging and exciting ways.
Staffordshire University is a connected University, dedicated to our students’ and our communities’ success.
This is achieved by:
- Connecting communities: Providing inspirational environments that bring communities together.
- Innovative and applied learning: Research and teaching that is integrated and applied, delivering real world learning in a global context.
- Talented people: We are creative, innovative and inclusive, empowering our people to be the very best.
We aim to give everyone we work with an edge – from the students we teach to the businesses and organisations we support.
Prof. Wilfred McSherry, PhD, RGN, FRCN
EPICC Lead Strategic Partner
Dr. Wilfred McSherry is a Professor in Nursing, a shared appointment between Department of Nursing, School of Health and Social Care, Staffordshire University and the University Hospitals of North Midlands. He is also a Part-time Professor at VID University College, Bergen, Norway.
He has had a career in nursing working as a Registered Nurse primarily within acute hospital care. His interest in the spiritual dimension developed alongside a realisation that this aspect of care was neglected and forgotten by some healthcare professionals. He has published several books and many articles addressing different aspects of the spiritual dimension such as educational issues, and spiritual assessment. He completed his Doctoral studies at Leeds Metropolitan University in May 2005 researching ‘The meaning of spirituality and spiritual care: An investigation of healthcare professionals, patients and public’s perceptions’.
Prior to taking up post at Staffordshire University he worked as a Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Hull where he was also instrumental in creating with colleagues the Centre for Spirituality Studies of which he was the director. In 2010, he lead the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) programme of work addressing spirituality and spiritual care in nursing.
He is a founding and executive member of the British Association for The Study of Spirituality (BASS) and a Principal Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). In 2012, he was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing (FRCN) for his unique contribution to nursing in the areas of spirituality and dignity.
Dr. Adam Boughey, DHealthPsy, CPsychol, MBPsS, RN
EPICC Project Manager
Dr. Adam Boughey works as the EPICC Project Manager, supporting Prof. Wilfred McSherry and other Strategic Partners. As Project Manager, Adam is responsible for the facilitation and delivery of the project, its intellectual outputs, and associated activities.
Since October 2018, Adam has worked as a Lecturer in Adult Nursing, at Staffordshire University. Adam has also previously lectured part-time in Psychology at Staffordshire University and delivered specialist lectures on request in health and social care.
Adam qualified in Adult Nursing from Keele University in 2004 and registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). During the following 10 years, Adam developed clinical nursing experience in both primary (community) and secondary (acute) care settings. As an RN, Adam is aware of the importance and positive impact of providing spiritual care in clinical contexts.
Adam worked as a full-time RN until 2008 when he retrained in psychology and health psychology, studying throughout at Staffordshire University. In 2008, he commenced a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and graduated with First Class Honours in 2011. This led to Adam commencing his specialist training in Health Psychology, where he read an MSc in Health Psychology and graduated with Distinction in 2012. Adam commenced a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology (DHealthPsy) in 2012, under the supervision of Dr. Rachel Povey, and successfully defended his viva voce on 9th May 2019. Adam is registered as a Practitioner Health Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) with the British Psychological Society (BPS).
During his time as a Trainee Health Psychologist, Adam has developed competence in advanced research methods, behaviour change interventions, consultancy, teaching, and professional skills. Since 2013, Adam has worked as a Research Associate to Prof. Wilfred McSherry and colleagues, providing academic support on a variety of research projects and service evaluations. All of these projects have led to a number of key outputs and publications in respected academic journals. A key underlying focus of many of these projects has been the focus on the spiritual dimension of healthcare provision, whether it be in dementia care, primary care chaplaincy, or end-of-life care. Adam is also a member of the British Association for the Study of Spirituality (BASS).
In his ‘spare’ time, Adam enjoys reading factual works (particularly in relation to science and technology), photography, teaching yoga professionally, and spending time with his family.