Michael is a children’s nurse, health visitor, and advanced nurse practitioner. As well as his university role, Michael is chief nurse at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Sheffield, and a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission. Alongside work, Michael is a consultant editor of the journal Nursing Children and Young People and an editor of Evidence-Based Nursing. Michael’s career has focused on the care of babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions in various settings, including community nursing and children’s hospices.

Michael has a master’s in public health and a PhD in palliative care, where he explored how grandparents experience the death of a grandchild. His research interests include children’s palliative care, family centred care, grief and loss, advancing nursing practice and nursing leadership. He has published and presented his research widely, working in collaboration with practitioners, organisations and academics in other institutions.

Michael was made a Fellow of the Association of British Paediatric Nurses (ABPN) ‘in recognition of an outstanding contribution as a clinical academic to the care of children, young people and their families through work in community and palliative care nursing and research.’

Earlier this year, Michael was invited to join the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee's Independent Expert Panel for Palliative and End of Life Care as one of five national experts who will work alongside the core members of the Expert Panel, to undertake an evaluation into the state of palliative care in England.

Outside of work, Michael is a very proud dad to his nine-year-old son, Charlie.