Dr Jonathan (Jonny) Branney is Principal Academic in Nursing and Clinical Sciences and Programme Leader for the PGDip/MSc Advanced Clinical Practice and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice apprenticeship (including Advanced Nurse Practitioner routes). He has a substantial clinical background as both a registered nurse (critical care; accident & emergency) and formerly a registered chiropractor. He is passionate about the role of biosciences in nurse and healthcare education, using innovative teaching techniques such as Team-based Learning to engage students, and in research on neck pain-associated disorders, particularly that aimed at improving outcomes for patients. Jonny holds a Visiting Research Fellowship with the Centre of Biomechanics Research (formally Institute for Musculoskeletal Research & Clinical Implementation) at AECC University College. It was there that he completed award-winning doctoral research into the mechanism of spinal manipulative therapy and its relationship with patient-reported outcomes in the treatment of patients with neck pain. This work included the use of quantitative fluoroscopy (motion x-rays) to measure the movement of the bones in the cervical spine of the participating patients before and after treatment. The results are published in international peer-reviewed journals and have been cited in systematic reviews/meta-analyses. At BU, research has included collaborating with the Orthopaedic Research Institute on a project aimed at improving outcomes for patients scheduled for hip and knee replacement surgery. Current research, funded by a Royal College of Chiropractors Postdoctoral Fellowship, is exploring the role of biopsychosocial factors in neck pain and whiplash-associated disorders, including a possible contributing role of cervical inter-vertebral motion and disc degenerative changes. In line with the Fusion ethos at BU, Jonny is proud to bring his duel professional practice backgrounds and a passion for clinical research and teaching together to mutual benefit as a full-time academic.

Research

Neck pain-associated disorders/cervical spine

- ‘An investigation of biological and psychosocial prognostic predictors in neck pain and whiplash associated disorders’. Royal College of Chiropractors Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship funded research in collaboration with AECC University College and Back2Health, February 2019 until January 2022.

- ‘Chiropractic management is associated with changes in cervical motion segment interactions in neck pain patients: A plausible mechanism of action for spinal manipulative therapy?’ Alister du Rose (University of South Wales), Jonathan Branney, Alan Breen (AECC University College). Presented at EPIC 2019 (Joint conference of the World Federation of Chiropractic and European Chiropractors’ Union), Berlin, 20-23 March 2019.

Innovative pedagogy

- ‘Collaborative Team-Based Learning: preliminary findings’. Lucy Stainer, Jonathan Branney. Presented at Active Learning Conference, 4-5 June 2018, University of Sussex, UK.

- 'Bringing nursing practice into the classroom with collaborative Team-based Learning: A model for 21st century nurse education?’ Jonathan Branney, Pushpinder Paddam and Kate Crabb (RBCH NHS Foundation Trust), Dawn Jacobs and Kara Winwood (Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust). Presented at RCN Education Forum Conference & Exhibition, 20-21 March 2018, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.

- ‘Promoting clinical decision making and teamwork in undergraduate nurse education: A mixed methods evaluation of team-based learning in applied pathophysiology’. Jonathan Branney, Jacqueline Priego-Hernández (University of Portsmouth). Presented at Team-based Learning Collaborative (TBLC) Annual Conference, 1-3 March 2018, San Diego, California.

Publications

Grants

Outreach & engagement

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