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  3. Tracy La Penna

  • Tracy is a registered midwife with significant experience in both community and acute settings. Tracy studied Midwifery at the University of Bradford, later obtaining an MSc in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting) awarded from the University of Northampton. She has a special interest in Infant and Family mental health and wellbeing and is a qualified professional midwifery/nurse advocate, with over 2 years’ experience providing restorative supervision to staff.

  • Tracy started working at the University of Northampton in 2022 teaching on the Public Health MSc Programme for two years before joining the midwifery team, and particularly enjoys global maternity health and care. She is soon to complete her Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice studied at the University of Liverpool and will also receive Advance HE fellowship. Tracy’s teaching philosophy focuses around creating an inclusive and student centred environment using an active blended approach to teaching and learning, empowering, and compassionately supporting students.

  • Tracy is currently co-authoring a book in relation to Infant and Family Mental Health due to be published in 2025.

    She is an active member of the International Students Pre-arrival group, exploring the transition of international students to studying at the University of Northampton, this is an on-going project.

    Her research interests are Compassion in Higher Education and compassionate pedagogy, student experience, infant and family mental health and well-being.

    Tracy has applied to commence her PhD with the research focus of “Compassion in midwifery higher education”.

    Tracy is a member of the Centre for the Centre for Health Sciences and Services (CHSS) and enjoys being a dissertation supervisor.

  • Developing research and evaluation opportunities through partnerships Toolkit: Developing research and evaluation opportunities through partnerships Toolkit — University of Northampton’s Research Explorer.