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Dr Sonya MacVicar

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Sonya MacVicar

Associate Professor

Biography Dr Sonya MacVicar is registered with the NMC as an adult nurse, midwife, nurse tutor and independent prescriber with an extensive clinical career spanning a variety of senior roles in the fields of midwifery and neonatal nursing.
Sonya completed her MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (neonatal) in 2011. In 2012 she became the first recipient of a competitively awarded aa joint NHS Grampian & Robert Gordon University doctoral studentship to conduct applied clinical research as a practitioner researcher. Her PhD is a mixed method study using behaviour change theory to develop and pilot an intervention supporting breastfeeding for the substance exposed mother and baby. The study was nominated for NMAHP award for doctoral studies exhibiting originality of ideas and which has the potential for significant impact on practice.
Sonya entered academia in 2016 as a lecturer and researcher within the area of maternal and neonatal health and well-being. Her educational remit includes programme leadership roles within advanced nurse practitioner preparation, neonatal nurse development, independent prescribing, midwifery practice and supervision of doctoral and master's level students. She is currently project lead of a professional development course for neonatal nurse training in Vietnam participating in the design, development and implementation of theory and clinical practice in Hanoi. This is an educational collaboration with a UK charity and the Vietnamese government to address the strategic needs of a low income/resource country to upskill their healthcare workforce.
Sonya's research interests include the impact of substance use disorder in pregnancy and neonatal abstinence syndrome. She has published extensively in this area and as part of an international collaboration developed a novel research Core Outcome Set for infants at risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal. Her current pedagogical research include exploring the education needs of midwifery students adjusting to continuity of care models of midwifery practice and the impact of neonatal education in low resource countries.
Sonya's expertise and professional standing withing the neonatal community is recognised by committee and advisory group representation on national government and educational bodies. Sonya has been commissioned as the midwifery and neonatal advisory consultant for the 2020 BBC drama 'The Nest'.
Research Interests Substance Use Disorders in pregnancy
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Promotion and support of breastfeeding
Advanced Practice role development
Advanced Practice education
Neonatal Education and role development
Continuity of care midwifery models
Low Middle Income County (LMIC) education
Teaching and Learning Programme lead Advanced Practice (Distance learning)
Programme lead Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for NMAHP
Neonatal lead Advanced Clinical Practice
Neonatal Nurse continued professional development training (Hanoi, Vietnam)
Deputy programme lead Qualified in Speciality Neonatal Nursing
Module team MSc Dissertation
PhD, MRes, MSc and MBA supervision
ResearcherID J-3627-2019
Scopus Author ID 56412133700