An occupational health nurse credited with shaping the present-day profession has been awarded an honorary fellowship for her lifelong and outstanding service. 

Julie Staun OBE was awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Cumbria at its July graduation ceremonies, which took place in Cumbria, at Carlisle Cathedral last week.

She has had an impressive career and, at 80, continues to make her mark in the field of occupational health, a profession she has helped to develop and promote worldwide since the 1980s.

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Ms Staun OBE said: "I am honoured and absolutely delighted to receive such an acknowledgement and recognition for a field that I am passionate about.

"The award brings attention to the continued importance of occupational health designed to improving working conditions and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of the working population."

Born in Norwich in 1941, she took up her first professional job in 1966 as a staff nurse at Newmarket General Hospital in Suffolk.

A year later Julie moved to Denmark to take up a similar position at the State University Hospital in Copenhagen, before becoming a specialist nurse anaesthetist at the County Hospital in Frederiksborg until she moved into the field of Occupational Health in1981.

From then she dedicated herself to promoting and developing the profession as it is known today.

This included developing and delivering specialised education for occupational health nurses in Denmark and forming academic education programmes in the EU and employer training programmes in Denmark, US and Delhi, India, as well as contributing to the University of Cumbria’s occupational health nursing programme.  

Professor Julie Mennell, vice chancellor, of the University of Cumbria, said: "Julie is a truly inspirational example of a lifelong learner, seeking new insights to challenge thinking and practice and inspiring others to do so, whatever their stage in life or career. We are very proud to recognise an individual who has had such a profound impact on her profession and field of work with this award."

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In the future, Julie would like to establish the field of occupational health in the university's Institute of Health, which already hosts nursing and many more allied health care professions. 

Julie joined three other honorary fellows conferred at the University of Cumbria graduations.