Public Health Education

From Placement to Practice, connecting the dots.

In this episode of the Public Health Education Podcast – AHP Series, Jo Teece explores how Allied Health Professionals can better understand and embed public health into everyday practice, including student placements and practice based learning. Joined by Gemma Murray, Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist and Team Lead in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, and Luke Smeeton, a second‑year Occupational Therapy student, the conversation focuses on a locally adapted training resource, Creating a Fairer, Healthier Ayrshire and Arran. 

Through case studies, reflective discussion, and practical delivery examples, the conversation shows how the resource supports prevention, person‑centred care, and confident public health conversations in busy clinical and community settings. 

The episode reinforces the importance of leadership, partnership working, and practice‑based learning in developing the future AHP workforce, aligned with the Scottish AHP public health strategic framework implementation plan: 2022–2027. 

Access a written transcript of the From Placement to Practice, connecting the dots episode 4, on Sway.

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.  

We would love your feedback! Share your thoughts on the podcast by completing our short feedback questionnaire. Your ideas help us improve our channel and shape our content!

More about our guests 

Our guests for this episode are Gemma Murray and Luke Smeeton. 

Gemma Murray 

Gemma Murray is an Occupational Therapist working in a split role as an Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist within Primary Care and Team Lead Occupational Therapist for Girvan Community Hospital based Occupational Therapy services within NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Gemma has 15 years clinical experience across many clinical areas but for the last 4 years has focused on early intervention and prevention assessment and intervention within Primary Care. Gemma has a particular interest in public health and innovative ways to practice Occupational Therapy. 

Luke Smeeton 

Luke Smeeton is a 2nd year Occupational Therapy student at Glasgow Caledonian University in the process of studying toward a BSc Honours in Occupational Therapy. 

 

Embedding Public Health in Practice: Introducing the AHP Public Health Turas Hub.

In this episode of the Public Health Education Podcast – AHP Series, host Jo Teece speaks with Dan Thompson, Senior Educator – AHP at Public Services Delivery Scotland, about how Allied Health Professionals embed public health into everyday practice. 

Dan introduces the AHP Public Health Turas Hub, a new, Scotland‑specific digital platform bringing together public health education, learning modules, practical examples, webinars, reflection tools, and a Community of Practice into one accessible space. The conversation explores why the Hub was developed, how it supports prevention, early intervention, and health inequalities, and how AHPs, students, and educators can use it. 

Call to action: Explore the AHP Public Health Turas Hub, share with colleagues, utilise resources within student practice based learning, and join the growing AHP public health community across Scotland. 

Access a written transcript of the Embedding Public Health in Practice: Introducing the AHP Public Health Turas Hub episode 3, on Sway.

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.  

We would love your feedback! Share your thoughts on the podcast by completing our short feedback questionnaire. Your ideas help us improve our channel and shape our content! 

Resources mentioned

Animation re AHP Public Health Turas Hub 

To access the NES AHP Public Health Turas Hub sign into your Turas account.

More about our guests

Dan Thompson 

Dan is a Physiotherapist to background and currently working as a Allied Health Professions (AHP) Public Health Senior Educator at Public Service Delivery Scotland. They have experience facilitating Allied Health Professions (AHP) Public Health education and a particular interest in the design and development of an AHP Public Health TURAS hub. This hub would support AHPs to develop their understanding of how they can influence and embed Scotland’s national Population Health objectives into everyday practice. 

Care Closer to Home: Insights on an AHP led community appointment day.

In this episode, Jo Teece, Dietitian, is joined by Fiona Holliman and Jenni Hopley, MSK Team Lead Physiotherapists from Ayrshire and Arran, to explore Community Appointment Days, an innovative, community‑based approach to musculoskeletal (MSK) care. They discuss how bringing MSK and third-sector services together under one roof can improve access, reduce waiting times, and support prevention and self‑management. The conversation highlights leadership, partnership working, and the evolving role of AHPs in tackling health inequalities through innovative models of care. 

Access a written transcript of the Care Closer to Home: Insights on an AHP led community appointment day episode 2, available on on Sway. 

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance. 

We would love your feedback! Share your thoughts on the podcast by completing our short feedback questionnaire. Your ideas help us improve our channel and shape our content! 

Resources mentioned

• Video example of a Community Appointment Day held at the Galleon on YouTube.
• Frontline Chartered Society of Physiotherapy article 
• Astley Ainslie Psychological Skills and Education Training ( AsSET) 

More about our guests  

Fiona Holliman

Fiona is a physiotherapist, works as Team Lead within MSK Physiotherapy service in East Ayrshire, part of the wider MSK team within Ayrshire and Arran. They have many years of experience, particularly within MSK, working in both NHS and private sector. Interest in, service development, realistic, patient centred care and supporting health behaviour change. 

Jenni Hopley

Jenni is a physiotherapist, works as Team Lead within MSK Physiotherapy service in North Ayrshire, part of the wider MSK team within Ayrshire & Arran

Together Fiona and Jenni have many years of experience, particularly within MSK, working in both NHS & private sector. 

Interest in, service development, realistic, patient centred care & supporting health behaviour change. 

In this episode, Fiona and Jenni share insights into Community Appointment Days and what this means for AHP practice and service delivery. 

We’re Live! The Public Health Education Podcast. The AHP Series

In this launch episode of The Public Health Education Podcast, the AHP Series, host Jo Teece, Dietitian and Senior Educator - AHP, introduces the role and contribution of the Allied Health professions (AHPs) to public health across Scotland. Listeners will gain a preview of upcoming episodes, featuring real-world examples of AHPs driving change. From digital innovation to community appointment days to award-winning initiatives in practice. Joined by Gillian Macleod, Associate Director for NMAHP  (Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals) Public Services Delivery (PSD) Scotland, the conversation explores how AHPs contribute to prevention, early intervention, and reducing health inequalities across diverse settings, from hospitals and communities to schools and justice services. 

Together, they discuss the Scottish allied health professions public health strategic framework implementation plan: 2022-2027, and how this podcast series aims to raise awareness, showcase innovation, and inspire action. This episode invites AHPs at all career stages to reflect on their role in public health, connect with learning resources on Turas, and embed insights into everyday practice.

Access a written transcript of We’re Live! The Public Health Education Podcast episode 1, available on Sway.

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance. 

We would love your feedback! Share your thoughts on the podcast by completing our short feedback questionnaire. Your ideas help us improve our channel and shape our content!

Resources mentioned

• Scotland Population health framework 
• Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework 

More about our guests

Gillian Macleod

Gillian is the Associate Director for NMAHP (Nursing Midwifery & Allied Health Professionals) at Public Services Delivery Scotland.

Jo Teece

Jo is a HCPC registered Dietitian with a strong interest in prevention, health inequalities, diet, and healthy weight. As part of Public Services Delivery Scotland, Jo works with people across health, social care, government, and professional bodies. This work supports the development of the Scottish allied health professions public health strategic framework implementation plan:2022-2027.

Jo is passionate about connection, collaboration, innovation, and developing the visibility of AHPs and their contribution to public health. Jo volunteers as part of the leadership team for AHPScot, a national blogging platform for AHPs. Jo values the learning and reflection that comes from conversations with blog authors and their work.