PHYSIOTHERAPY TUTOR
Kate Purcell BSc (Hons), MSc, FHEA
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Kate qualified as a physiotherapist in 2009 with a Master’s (pre-registration) from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, having previously completed a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. She began her career as a rotational physiotherapist before specialising in musculoskeletal practice, working across both public and private sectors.
With over 15 years of clinical experience, Kate has developed expertise across a wide range of musculoskeletal disciplines, including spine care, hand therapy, pain management, vestibular rehabilitation, orthopaedics, and sports injuries, and much more. Her professional interests include clinical reasoning, metacognition, evidence-informed practice, and the therapeutic alliance.
Kate now works as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner in the NHS, dividing her time between an integrated orthopaedic team specialising in upper limb conditions and her role as a first contact practitioner in primary care.
Learning & Teaching
Kate is an experienced Physiotherapy Lecturer with almost three years of teaching at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, where she designed and delivered classes across undergraduate, pre-registration, and postgraduate programmes. Her teaching has spanned Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Health & Wellbeing, and Advancing Clinical Skills modules. She also contributes as a guest lecturer at Napier University, Edinburgh.
Since completing Practice Educator Training in 2012, Kate has supported both students and qualified physiotherapists through mentorship, clinical supervision, and tailored training. She is actively involved in developing competency frameworks and career pathways for MSK clinicians, ensuring high-quality education and professional growth across the physiotherapy community.
Outreach Activities
Kate has also contributed to leading online physiotherapy education platforms such as Trust-Me Education and Physio Matters. She delivers regular training, masterclasses, and webinars on clinical and professional topics, and has presented at national events, including Physiotherapy UK. Alongside overseeing NHS orthopedic guidelines, she remains active in independent research and contemporary professional issues, with recent work published in Physiotherapy Journal: Redefining the Role of Physiotherapy in Modern Healthcare (2025). She has also featured as a guest on the podcast Clinical Communication, discussing contemporary approaches to physiotherapy education and practice (listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts).
Get in touch to see how Kate’s unique combination of advanced clinical and academic experience, along with her facilitative style of teaching and mentorship, can help you to accomplish success in your studies and clinical practice.