Associate Head of School (Allied Health Professionals)
In my role as Associate Head of School for the Allied Health Professions, I manage the podiatry, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy teams. I continue to teach the three Occupational Therapy courses, undertake time in practice, and I'm studying for a Professional Doctorate.
I have been a Senior Lecturer in higher education since 2007, having previously taught at Teesside University. As well as teaching occupational therapy, I have also taught on a national leadership programme on behalf of the University of Leeds.
In my previous roles, I have developed occupational therapy provision, worked in collaboration to develop modules for architecture and design students, created inter-professional learning resources, and introduced placements in role-emerging areas of practice.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and earned this award by demonstrating my skills using digital teaching resources. I enjoy using my core skills as an occupational therapist to consider the educational needs of my students, which enables me to adapt my teaching style.
I have taught in Switzerland and Malaysia and have enjoyed supervising international students via distance learning. I have supervised students undertaking dissertations on projects at BSc (Hons) and MSc levels and have had the pleasure of assisting with students' conference presentations and posters.
Prior to teaching I worked in the NHS, initially as an occupational therapist and working my way up to become an Assistant Director of Community Services. My practice experience is in mental health, infectious diseases, older age medicine and surgery, orthopaedics, and community equipment loans. I have managed a range of allied health profession services as well as wheelchair services and a children's centre. I am currently working in partnership with a horticultural day centre for people with learning disabilities.
Teaching and supervision
I am a Principal Lecturer on:
Research interests for potential research students
Research
The research topic for my MA Independent Practice (Health) was 'Understanding the prevalence of self-reported, co-dependent characteristics in National Health Service staff working in a Primary Care Trust'.
My research interests are in the areas of co-dependency, volunteering, and skills for life (personal development).
- Occupational Therapy
- Leadership
- Role emerging areas of practice
- Co-dependence
- Inclusion
Please note that my previous surname was Wright.
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2012), Occupational therapy origins and inter-professional habitus.
- Paper presentation at the 36th Annual Conference of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Glasgow
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2012), It’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.
- Facilitated discussion at the 36th Annual Conference of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Glasgow
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2013), Becoming an Occupational Therapist, BPP Learning Media, London
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2012), Inter-professional working in occupational therapy. In Littlefield and Smith, Inter-professional and Inter-agency Practice in the Human Services: Learning to Work Together. Pearson, London
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2016), Becoming an Occupational Therapist (2nd Ed), BPP Learning Media, London
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2016), Becoming a Physiotherapist, BPP Learning Media, London
- McKenna CJ, Wright CL (2016), exploring occupational motivation through personal narratives.
- Facilitated discussion at the 40th Annual Conference of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Harrogate
External Appointments:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, July 2012 – July 2013
- Vice Chairman of Council, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, July 2011 – July 2012
- Member of the Audit Committee, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, July 2010 – July 2012
- Member of the Merit Award Board, Royal College of Occupational Therapists, October 2009 – July 2012 and December 2017 to present.
Volunteering: - Scout Association: Member of the Contingent Management Team for the 24th World Scout Jamboree, Beaver Scout Leader, Training Advisor.
