Dee Howley
Meet Dee
Dee Howley
Qualifications: MSc Health Psychology, MSc Genetic Healthcare, Registered Nurse
About Me
I have always wanted to work in a forward-thinking area of healthcare, inspired in no small part by my late mother. Her curiosity about how the body and mind work left a lasting impression on me and helped shape my own interest in health and wellbeing.
I initially trained in psychology and health psychology before moving into clinical research and then nursing. It was during my teenage years that I first realised how much I enjoyed working with people and wanted a career where I could make a meaningful difference to their lives.
My career has since taken me through clinical research, nursing, genetics, cancer care, cardiology and preventative health. Increasingly, I have become interested in how we can move beyond simply managing existing illness and help people better understand their health, identify potential risks and take positive steps towards prevention.
This is what has drawn me to Functional Medicine Wimbledon, where I am currently supporting the team with phlebotomy whilst undertaking further training in functional medicine.
How I Work
Making sure people feel heard, valued and well informed is central to the way I work.
Throughout my nursing career, I have made a particular effort to educate patients and their families so that they understand their health and feel able to participate in decisions about their care. I never want someone to leave an appointment feeling confused about what has been discussed or what happens next.
My background in health psychology and genetic counselling means that I am accustomed to taking complex medical information and explaining it in a clear, concise and patient-friendly way.
I am particularly interested in preventative healthcare and supporting realistic, sustainable health behaviours. As I develop my training in functional medicine, I hope to bring together my experience in nursing, genetics and health psychology with a more personalised and whole-person approach to health.
Areas of Expertise
My clinical and research experience includes:
- Phlebotomy and blood sampling
- Cancer genetics and cancer risk assessment
- Genetic counselling
- Inherited cardiac conditions and cardiomyopathies
- Cancer screening and prevention
- Women’s health
- Health psychology and behaviour change
- Clinical research
- Neurodevelopmental conditions
- Health screening and preventative healthcare
- Patient education and lifestyle support
- IV and IM therapies
I have a particular interest in disease prevention, women’s health and cardiometabolic health, and in helping people understand how their family history, genetics, lifestyle and wider health picture may influence their future health.
Training and Qualifications
I graduated with a degree in Psychology before completing an MSc in Health Psychology at the University of Leeds.
I subsequently trained as a nurse at King’s College London, qualifying in 2012, before completing further postgraduate training and an MSc in Genetic Healthcare at the University of Plymouth.
My career has included specialist nursing and research roles at St George’s University Hospitals, King’s College Hospital, Barts Health, Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College London. My work has spanned cancer genetics, inherited cardiac conditions, neurodevelopmental research, clinical genetics and preventative healthcare.
I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and am currently undertaking further training in functional medicine.
My Interests and Hobbies
Growing up in the north of England with an Irish father meant my childhood was full of tradition, music, dancing, social occasions and plenty of laughter. I think that upbringing has contributed to how much I enjoy meeting and talking to people from all walks of life.
Outside work, I enjoy playing tennis, golf and football with my son – thankfully not all on the same day!
After nearly 20 years in London, I still love exploring everything the city has to offer, and doing this as a family makes it even more enjoyable. I love reading and consider it an important part of my own self-care.
Travel is another passion. As long as I come home having discovered or learnt something new, I consider it a trip well spent.