Penny qualified as a nurse at the Nightingale School of Nursing, St Thomas Hospital, London in 1985. Penny has experience in medical, surgical, critical care and gastrointestinal and hepatology nursing, latterly managing two medical wards. Penny moved to a nurse education at De Montfort University, Leicester in 2000 and teaches pre-registration, post-registration and post-graduate studies for nursing students / qualified nurses and health care professionals. Penny has professional interest in delivering modules / programmes for nurses working in gastroenterology, gastric surgery, hepatology, endoscopy, nutrition, stoma care and independent study. Penny is a member of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG Nurses Association), the Midlands Gastrointestinal Nurses Group (MGNS), The Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) and The Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Penny is on the Editorial Board and publishes a monthly column on professional issues for Gastrointestinal Nursing Journal. Penny is based in Leicester and enjoys playing the clarinet. Penny is the proud owner of a Blue Peter badge.