Former Deputy Mayor of Olney, Buckinghamshire, Dr Sally Pezaro is Programme Director of the Structured PhD in Healthcare Sciences. Dr Pezaro is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives (FRCM), a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panellist. 

Dr Pezaro's research is rooted in decolonial feminist approaches and focussed on achieving reproductive justice for all, and addressing inequalities in reproductive services. Dr Pezaro has specifically focussed upon improving the delivery of perinatal care in groups such as minoritized global majority communities, trans and non-binary people and victims of domestic violence and abuse. Capturing the impact from some of this work, Dr Pezaro is the course director for the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) 'Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in Pregnancy'

Dr Pezaro's research also remains focussed upon the healthcare workforce in terms of wellbeing, leadership, and professional identity. Outputs in this area include www.FindTheMidwife.com; 'Boats on an Ocean' and the Royal College of Midwives report and recommendations on workplace support for midwives experiencing domestic abuse. Some of Dr Pezaro's research has also contributed to the development of NHS England's and NHS Improvement’s Resource pack to support workplace compassion and support guide towards commissioning for workplace compassion along with the Royal College of Midwives equality and diversity report on work-related stress. This work led to Dr Pezaro being invited to feature as an expert on the Panorama programme 'Midwives under pressure' (January 2024).

As well as teaching, mentoring and supervising students in evidence-based practice and research methodologies, Dr Pezaro also acts as an editorial board member for both MIDIRS Midwifery Digest and Evidence Based Midwifery, the International Journal of Childbirth and the CPQ Women and Child Health journal. She sources talent at every level to ensure that all projects are delivered with impact.

With a keen interest in supporting those childbearing with hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), Dr Pezaro is the lead midwife for www.hEDSTogether.com an invited member of the Ehlers-Danlos Society's International Consortium, and board member of the NovaCombian research centre. Most recently in 2022, The Ehlers-Danlos Society bestowed Dr Pezaro with the 'Outstanding Consortium Member of the Year' award, which honors a person with unparalleled dedication to the International Consortium on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders who has demonstrated a commitment to supporting patients and working for awareness and education for the wider community. 

Dr Pezaro enjoys mentoring others (e.g. Mary Seacole Leadership Awardees and Council of Deans of Health #150Leaders), and is currently leading the Midwives in Focus Programme, in partnership with the Nursing Now Challenge.

In 2021 Dr Pezaro won the 'Partnership Working' award from the Royal college of midwives and a 'Midwives Award' from the Iolanthe Midwifery Trust. In 2019, Dr Pezaro was honoured with a first prize award from the Royal Society of Medicine in 'Leading and inspiring excellence in maternity care' and was also first runner-up for the British Journal of Midwifery's 'Midwife of the Year' 2019. 

• Development and evaluation of 'Research Inspired Teaching'
• Development of workplace compassion and wellbeing
• Development and evaluation of online and app-based health interventions
• Reducing inequalities in healthcare
• Achieving excellence in healthcare services

Both research, and research inspired teaching have huge potential in instigating positive and evidence-based 'real world' change on an international scale. As such, my objective as an academic will always be to co-create pathways to impact, and ensure that everything I do makes a real difference in the real world.