Dr Ashley Shepherd is a registered nurse and has worked in academia since 1995.  She currently holds a management role as the Head of Health Sciences at the University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.

Ashley’s research interests include Urinary catheter care, health care quality including quality improvement methodologies and physical activity in the older population.  Ashley has written over 45 peer reviewed papers which has resulted in over 500 citations. Her work has led to significant changes in both education and practice.  She has led on many externally funded projects including large randomised trials. 

Ashley currently supervises 8 PhD and Clinical Doctorate students on a range of topics and she has successfully supervised 11 to completion.  She teaches across the Faculties undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and has examined many PhDs both as internal and external examiner. 

The Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport at the University of Stirling is multi-disciplinary with over 45 active research staff including academics in nursing, physiology, psychology, management, sociology, social marketing, public health, primary care and mental health.  The Faculty’s mission is to develop existing research excellence within human health and sport by addressing 3 overarching themes: (1) Mechanisms of change researches how human behaviour and/or physiology change in relation to health and/or sport outcomes; (2) Lifestyle and behaviour change researches strategies for favourable health and/or sport outcomes; (3) Service delivery policy and practice examines effectiveness of existing health and/or sport policy.