Suriya Kirkpatrick

Biography:

Suriya is an internationally qualified registered nurse and midwife who began her career in South Africa. With over three decades of nursing experience and a background in psychology, she has dedicated her professional life to enhancing patient outcomes across diverse clinical settings, including intensive care, acute medicine, stroke, and cancer care. Her extensive expertise in cancer care is particularly notable, encompassing roles such as Acute Oncology Specialist Nurse, Advanced Cancer Research Practitioner and Genomics Practitioner. Suriya led the delivery of cancer research for over 16 years  at North Bristol Trust, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the cancer research portfolio to benefit patients and advance care delivery. She is currently pursuing a PhD in lung cancer, focusing on developing a digital self-management platform for individuals living with the disease. Her research bridges clinical expertise, leadership, and innovation to drive improvements in patient care and experiences. Suriya’s commitment to leadership and innovation in nursing is exemplified by her recognition as a Florence Nightingale Foundation Established Leadership Scholar. She also holds influential leadership roles, nationally and internationally. Suriya serves as Chair of Lung Cancer Nursing UK’s Research Interest Group, is a core member of the UK Oncology Nursing Society’s Personalised Cancer Care Members Interest Group, sits on the advisory committee of the Global Power for Oncology Nursing Group and various research advisory committees. More recently, Suriya was accepted on the National Institute for Health and Care Senior Research Leaders Programme. In her new role as Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for Research Development and Genomics, Suriya aligns her work with the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s strategic research priorities and NHS England’s vision for integrating genomics into healthcare. Equity, diversity, and inclusivity are at the heart of Suriya’s research and leadership approach. She is committed to empowering the nursing community by supporting the development of fundable research proposals and nurturing the ambitions of her colleagues.