Dr Margaret Coulter Smith
ROLE
Senior Lecturer, Nursing
QMU Academic Champion for Entrepreneurship
SPECIFIC PROJECT OR INITIATIVE
Lydia Osteoporosis Project
The Lydia Osteoporosis Project is a
research, education implementation,
evaluation and dissemination project,
which aims to raise awareness of the
high prevalence of osteoporosis and
increased fracture risk in older people
in healthcare settings. The aim is to
address implications for nursing care
focusing on promoting ‘person-centred’
safe and effective moving and handling.
Through this research we seek to promote
opportunities to discuss complex healthcare issues,
increase knowledge, and create a supportive
environment that stimulates solutions to health
challenges. There are many parallels between
entrepreneurship and the process of being a doctoral
or post-doctoral researcher, and understanding the
role of innovation and creativity in research is key.
The researcher role is multifaceted and the
research endeavour now extends further into the
implementation of evidence into practice than
was previously the norm. There is now significant
momentum to create a new generation of “academic
entrepreneurs”. As QMU Academic Champion for
Entrepreneurship in the Division of Nursing I
see many exciting opportunities to support and
develop entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills
among QMU students and staff.
“Osteoporosis is a complex disease,
often ‘silent’ in onset and undiagnosed
until fractures occur. We want to
raise awareness of the disease and
implications for nursing care using
innovative education, creative research
and eye-catching dissemination
activities. Ultimately, we seek to
minimise the risk of serious fractures
that can be life-changing or reduce
life-expectancy.”