Experts awarded honorary contracts to enhance women’s health and early years research

7th November 2024

Two prominent Sheffield Hallam women’s healthcare experts have been awarded honorary contracts at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), marking a significant milestone in the collaboration between the university and the hospital.

Hora Soltani, Professor of Maternal and Infant Health, and Dr Frankie Fair, Lecturer and Research Fellow in Midwifery, from the University’s School of Health and Social Care, will work with DBTH over the next three years to enhance research capacity in women’s health and early years.

Professor Hora Soltani has made significant contributions to maternal and infant health research since joining Sheffield Hallam University in 2006, establishing and currently leads the Maternal and Infant Health Research Group (MIHRG) with a strong track record in promoting health equity for mothers and babies.

Professor Soltani and team have attracted research funding from prestigious sources and have expertise in systematic reviews, big data analysis, and the development of birth cohorts, including the Born and Bred in Doncaster project.  Having been ranked within the top two per cent highly cited researchers in her field (Listed by Stanford University-Elsevier 2023), Professor Soltani’s work has shaped both national and global healthcare guidelines. Her leadership in interdisciplinary research has earned her numerous accolades, including an MBE for services to maternal and infant health.

Dr Frankie Fair, with over a decade of midwifery research experience in the University’s from the Centre for Applied Health and Social Care Research (CARe), has also played a pivotal role in advancing research on midwife-led care, maternal obesity, migrant maternity care and health inequalities.

Her work has been widely recognised, with projects funded by the European Commission, Public Health England, Race & Health Observatory and the Burdett Trust for Nursing. Dr Fair’s collaborations with NHS Trusts across Sheffield, Doncaster, and Barnsley, highlight her commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health.

Professor Hora Soltani said:

“I am delighted we are joining DBTH as part of the HDRC Doncaster initiative, creating a progressive environment for integrating research and practice to enhance quality of care and reducing health inequity for mothers, babies and families across the region and beyond.

"Doncaster is setting an excellent example in bridging the gap between academia and practice with an ultimate aim of making sustainable impact for healthcare professionals and the people they are serving.”

Previous collaborations between the Maternal and Infant Health Research Group at Sheffield Hallam University and DBTH include projects such as the evaluation of maternal obesity services through data connectivity and adolescent pregnancy and nutrition. These projects provide the foundations for this partnership, creating an opportunity for further research and capacity development with the aim of enhancing quality of care and safety for all mothers, babies and families.

Professor Sam Debbage, Director of Education and Research at DBTH, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Soltani and Dr Frankie Fair to our team.  Their exceptional expertise in women’s health and early years research will greatly contribute to our goal of becoming a centre of excellence in research and education.

"This collaboration highlights our ongoing ambition to become a University Hospital, reinforcing our commitment to providing the highest standards of care informed by cutting-edge research.”

Find out more about the School of Health and Social Care at Sheffield Hallam University.