SCIC Reps

Firas Sarhan is Clinical Education Transformation Lead working at the National Spinal Injury Centre with NHS England developing educational curriculum on spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation. Previously he was the Director and lead academic for the Centre of Excellence for Telehealth and Assisted Living at Barnet Southgate College. Firas was also principal and Senior Lecturer in the School Advanced & Continuing Practice at Buckinghamshire New University. He has more than 30 years experience in acute rehabilitation and continuing care of people with physical disabilities. Firas has a wide range of experience in applying smart technology in supporting patients with long-term conditions, he was able to establish a living lab to examine and evaluate the impact of technology on health and wellbeing of individuals with long term conditions. He is keen on research and data regarding the needs of individuals with long-term disability, i.e. spinal cord injury and cauda equina syndrome. Firas established two educational apps to support professionals, patients, and relatives re spinal cord injury management. Firas also works as a volunteer as a project manager for a UK-based charity ABCD Children of Bethlehem which supports Palestinian children with physical disability in the refugee camps in Palestine.  

Prerna works as an LSCIC charge nurse, band 6. Through her work she has developed a passion for supporting multidisciplinary collaboration in the management of SCI. Prerna believes MDT collaboration can drive innovation and improve outcomes. She hopes to deliver a meaningful contribution to MASCIP’s mission by sharing insights from her practice and fostering greater collaboration within the SCI professional community.

Rachael started at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury as a Junior Physiotherapist in 2002 and has worked there ever since. She gained an MSc in Health and Rehabilitation in 2012 and became the Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in 2015.

Bronagh has been a qualified physio for 16 years, specialising in neuro rehab for the last 10 years. She is the newly appointed Clinical Specialist and Team Lead Physio in the Belfast Regional Spinal Injury Centre. She has a real passion for spinal injury rehab and loves working within the MDT to try and maximise patients’ function, pushing them towards their goals.

Éimear is Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at the National Rehabilitation & Mater Misericordiae University Hospitals, Dublin since 2009. Sub-specialist clinical interests include paediatric SCI, ventilatory management in SCI, restoration of upper limb function in tetraplegia and the long-term medical complications of SCI. Current research interests include epidemiology of and outcomes following traumatic and non-traumatic SCI, and patient and public involvement in SCI research.

Andrea is an experienced nurse with over 28 years’ experience, having worked at the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit since 1998. She has worked in various areas and roles within the Spinal Injuries Centre including Acute Care, Continuing Care, Rehabilitation, Complex Discharge Sister, and is currently the Acute Outreach Lead. In 2024, Andrea completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Neuro Rehabilitation from the University of Edinburgh, reflecting her dedication to spinal cord injury care.

Clare is an Advanced Physiotherapist who has worked at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport since 2004. She works on an inpatient role across all aspects of Spinal Injury Rehabilitation including Respiratory and Neuro Rehabilitation.

Claire is a Specialist Physiotherapist who has worked at the QENSIU, Glasgow since 2006. She currently works in a split clinical and research role, in collaboration with the Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury.