The 2025 winner of our RCN Scotland Nursing Innovation and Research Award, Kath Williamson, is a shining example. Her passion for equity and evidence-based care has led her to achieve a milestone for Scottish nursing. As the first nurse in Scotland awarded a Chief Scientist Office Early Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Kath is redefining the role of nurses in research and championing improved care for people living with severe obesity.
Kath’s journey began with a simple but powerful question during her time as a District Nurse: “Surely we can do better than this?”. Confronted with the complex, fragmented, and often inadequate care experienced by housebound individuals with severe obesity, she committed to making a difference. Over seven years, Kath pursued an ambitious PhD, self-funding her studies while balancing clinical responsibilities as Honorary Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist - Bariatric Care (Community) in NHS Lothian.
Her mixed-methods research was the first of its kind in the UK to explore the lived experiences and care needs of housebound people with severe obesity. Through in-depth interviews and cost analyses, Kath revealed the scale of unmet need, significant health and social care costs, and systemic gaps in data, services, and equipment. Her work highlighted not only the human impact of neglect in this area but also the urgent need for targeted, inclusive care strategies.
Kath’s findings have had a growing impact. Her publications—now cited internationally—are helping shape conversations around obesity, data collection, and equitable care delivery. Her 2020 paper on rising BMI prevalence has been cited over 50 times and continues to influence research and policy.
Despite systemic barriers and financial sacrifice, Kath has built a strong academic profile, publishing 11 papers and presenting her work at national and international conferences. She coordinated a groundbreaking webinar for the European Association for the Study of Obesity, and her thesis was shortlisted for best PhD at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice.
Alongside her research, Kath has remained a dedicated clinician, continuing her work one day a week as a Bariatric Specialist Nurse. She also established NHS Lothian’s Bariatric Forum—a unique, multidisciplinary network uniting professionals across health and social care to collaboratively address the needs of people living with severe obesity.
Kath’s determination, humility, and visionary thinking make her an inspirational role model for nurses in Scotland and beyond. As she builds her clinical academic career, Kath advocates for parity with other professions and paves the way for more nurses to lead impactful research.
Kath’s journey began with a simple but powerful question during her time as a District Nurse: “Surely we can do better than this?”. Confronted with the complex, fragmented, and often inadequate care experienced by housebound individuals with severe obesity, she committed to making a difference. Over seven years, Kath pursued an ambitious PhD, self-funding her studies while balancing clinical responsibilities as Honorary Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist - Bariatric Care (Community) in NHS Lothian.
Her mixed-methods research was the first of its kind in the UK to explore the lived experiences and care needs of housebound people with severe obesity. Through in-depth interviews and cost analyses, Kath revealed the scale of unmet need, significant health and social care costs, and systemic gaps in data, services, and equipment. Her work highlighted not only the human impact of neglect in this area but also the urgent need for targeted, inclusive care strategies.
Kath’s findings have had a growing impact. Her publications—now cited internationally—are helping shape conversations around obesity, data collection, and equitable care delivery. Her 2020 paper on rising BMI prevalence has been cited over 50 times and continues to influence research and policy.
Despite systemic barriers and financial sacrifice, Kath has built a strong academic profile, publishing 11 papers and presenting her work at national and international conferences. She coordinated a groundbreaking webinar for the European Association for the Study of Obesity, and her thesis was shortlisted for best PhD at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice.
Alongside her research, Kath has remained a dedicated clinician, continuing her work one day a week as a Bariatric Specialist Nurse. She also established NHS Lothian’s Bariatric Forum—a unique, multidisciplinary network uniting professionals across health and social care to collaboratively address the needs of people living with severe obesity.
Kath’s determination, humility, and visionary thinking make her an inspirational role model for nurses in Scotland and beyond. As she builds her clinical academic career, Kath advocates for parity with other professions and paves the way for more nurses to lead impactful research.
Share on Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
