Healthcare Science Week, 10-16 March 2025 (opens in a new tab), brings together over 50 scientific specialisms and professional groups.
We spoke to Sue Oddy, lead scientist for our hospitals.
The role of a Trust lead scientist is to support, promote and highlight the work of healthcare scientists at our hospitals. There are lots of different healthcare scientists across our hospitals, many of them are involved in analysing clinical tests, working with our clinical teams to provide diagnosis, treatments and monitoring for patients.
Sue's journey
"I started as a trainee clinical scientist in 2005 and after my training and (many) exams I am now a consultant clinical scientist in biochemistry. In 2019, I was successfully appointed to the position of Trust lead scientist which I carry out in addition to my clinical scientist role.
"Over the years it has been a pleasure and a privilege to meet new healthcare scientists and find out about their role and how they contribute to the patient pathway. The roles of healthcare scientists are complex and varied and even now, I am still learning about the fantastic work that they do at CUH."
Science at CUH is at the cutting edge, and we look after some of the most complex patients with staff who are some of the best in their field. Every day is varied and there is always something to learn.
A day-in-the-life...
"On a usual day, I can be reviewing and providing advice about lab results, discussing patients at MDTs, but also representing healthcare science at a regional or even national level. I take the opportunity to support understanding of the importance of healthcare science whatever I am doing.
"The work of healthcare scientists underpins 80% of all diagnoses. Our organisation simply wouldn’t function without us and we are proud to support patient pathways. Like other professions, it is vital that we are represented at a senior level in the hospital so that we can be involved in these pathways from inception and support the best possible care for patients.
The Trust lead scientist position will be advertised next April. I would encourage aspirational leaders in Healthcare Science to contact me to discuss this truly rewarding role.
New developments
"It’s an absolute pleasure for me to meet scientists in areas new to me. Last year I ran the Healthcare Science Awards and a healthcare scientist in assistive technology was nominated and won one of the awards.
"I was invited to their department to learn more about assistive technology healthcare scientists. Their role is to support patients who have challenges with communication and provide appropriate technology to do so. The visit was incredibly rewarding and I truly was blown away by the dedication and the expertise of this role."