Professor Karen Watchman

Professor

Health Sciences Stirling E19 Pathfoot, University of Stirling

Professor Karen Watchman

About me

Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport and Adjunct Professor University of Limerick
I have over 25 years of experience working at a senior level in both research and social care and am UK delivery lead for IMPACT see this link. IMPACT is an implementation centre drawing on knowledge gained from different types of research, the lived experience of people using services and their carers, and the practice knowledge of social care staff.

My academic background is in social science, with a practice background in intellectual disability where I spent many years as Chief Executive of Down's Syndrome Scotland.

I have extensive experience of co-producing, writing, and disseminating my research findings for different audiences by developing dementia-related content for publication in a range of formats. Knowledge translation and production of accessible information, such as Jenny's Diary see this link ensures dissemination of research findings into practice both nationally and internationally, with translation into six languages. I provide training, and consultancy and have developed award winning resources with, and for, people with intellectual disability and dementia.

During 2021, I spent the year as part-time Senior Publications Manager for Alzheimer's Disease International where I worked alongside McGill University, Canada to manage and edit the World Alzheimer Report 2021, Journey through the Diagnosis of Dementia see this link. I authored the report From Plan to Impact IV see this link monitoring progress towards targets of the WHO Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia.

With experience in qualitative and mixed method research, I lead teams conducting participatory research with people who have an intellectual disability, with a specific research interest in dementia. Recent grants have been awarded by Dunhill Medical Trust see this link, The Alzheimer's Society see this link, ESRC see this link, Chief Scientists Office see this link, and The British Academy see this link.

Funded research, evaluation and impact activities as Principal and Co-investigator since 2016 are shown below. See my ORCID page for further details see this link

Award

Alzheimer's Society UK Dementia research leaders award for use of research evidence with marginalised groups (winner)
Alzheimer's Society

https://bit.ly/2tZTpur

Mental health nursing forum award (winner) - Grace Notes
Mental Health Nursing Forum Scotland

https://soundcloud.com/grace-notes-alzscot-uws

Guardian University Awards, International Projects (finalist), Dementia Palliare

http://healthlifesciences.uws.ac.uk/…iversity-awards/

Health and Social Care Alliance Self Management Resource of the Year (winner) - Jenny's Diary
Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland

https://bit.ly/2KEnTct

National Dementia Care Awards UK: best dementia training initiative (winner) - Post diagnostic support for people with a learning disability and dementia

https://www.stirlingnews.co.uk/…tia-care-course/

Scottish Learning Disability Awards Community Champion (highly commended), Life through a Lens Research Team

https://www.key.org.uk/…s-award-success/

The Herald & GenAnalytics Diversity Awards (winner), Diversity through Education
The Herald's Higher Education Awards - Scotland

https://www.stir.ac.uk/…diversity-award/

UK Dementia Care Awards, Dementia and Diversity category, Stand by Me project

https://www.dementiacareawards.co.uk/…-2024-announced/

Scottish Self-management Awards, Stand by Me, winner of Empowering Self-management category

https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/…ntary-reception/

Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
Higher Education Academy


Event / Presentation

Jointly facing the challenges of dementia in adults with intellectual disability / Successful Ageing for People with Intellectual disabilities, University of Tainan & Children Are Us Foundation, Taiwan (invited keynote)
Children Are Us Foundation

Intellectual Disability and Dementia: Critical Issues for Families and Carers / Towards an Ageing Society: Inclusive Living for people with Intellectual Disabilities, Caritas, Hong Kong (invited keynote)
Caritas

Dementia and intellectual disability - Valuing the perspectives of people with intellectual disability. 28th Alzheimer Europe Conference, Barcelona (invited keynote)
Alzheimer Europe

https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/…Keynote-Speakers

Football-focused reminiscence in dementia care: Impact on quality of life. 10th International Dementia Conference, Ireland (invited keynote)
Sonas apc

Ardgowan Hospice, Hope for Home Dementia Conference (invited keynote)

Living Well with Dementia (conference organiser) - free conference for, and led by, people with a learning disability

National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia, USA - invited delivery of online seminar series

Equality and Diversity Issues in Care Home Research, British Society of Gerontology, invited seminar (online)

NHS Education for Scotland invited masterclass, learning disability and dementia

Supporting People with a Learning Disability and Advancing Dementia (invited presenter)
Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Care Inspectorate and Alzheimer Scotland

https://ihub.scot/…learning-system/

International Summit on intellectual Disability and Dementia (Toronto)

https://www.the-ntg.org/copy-of-glasgow-summit-on-id

UK Dementia and Palliative Care Conference 2025 (invited keynote)

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rowcroft/1390432


Examining

MSc Applied Dementia Studies, University of Bournemouth

MSc Nursing: Dementia Care, University of Limerick
University of Limerick, Ireland

BSc in Intellectual Disability Nursing, Waterford Institute of Technology


Other Academic Activities

International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IASSIDD) – Down syndrome research group secretary

Adjunct Professor, University of Limerick. Ireland
University of Limerick, Ireland

Alzheimer Europe External Advisory Panel member
Alzheimer Europe
https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/…ry-panel/members

Invited member of National Task Group International Committee (USA)

Scottish government cross party working group on dementia

World Health Organisation, Global Dementia Observatory Knowledge Exchange Platform Reviewer


Supervision of Research Assistants

Kate Mattheys

Heather Strachan

Marie Dunnion

Esme Foxworthy-Bowers

Paula Jacobs

Leanne Teichner

Catherine Arnold

Laura Doyle

Laura Jones

Marlene Kelly

Soracha Cashman