Professor Pat Schofield has a professional background in nursing and completed her PhD in 2001, which investigated management of chronic pain using sensory environments. Since then, Pat’s focus has been on the management of pain, particularly amongst older adults, and she has completed a number of major projects in this area, including self-management strategies for chronic pain management in older adults, and looking at pain assessment of those with cognitive impairment. Smaller projects have focused on the field of pain and ageing.
Pat has led the development of national guidelines for pain assessment in adults and the management of pain in older adults. She is involved in the education of future clinicians; and is an examiner on the European Diploma in Pain Medicine. In 2019, Pat led the European Year against Pain in Vulnerable Populations and she is co-chair of the Global Year against Pain in Vulnerable Populations. Pat holds an honorary role as Professor of Pain & Ageing for Abertay University.