HSU Welcomes Honorary Associate Professor Laura Finucane: A Global Leader in MSK Health and Innovative Care

HSU is delighted to welcome Laura Finucane as Honorary Associate Professor. A leading figure in musculoskeletal (MSK) health, Laura brings a wealth of clinical, academic and international leadership experience – and a deep passion for rethinking how we support people in our practice.

Laura’s career journey began in the classroom, as a PE and biology teacher. Although she loved teaching, she soon realised her true calling lay in physiotherapy. After completing her undergraduate degree at Brunel University – graduating with a first-class honours – she found herself drawn to MSK practice, quickly rising through the ranks to become a superintendent physiotherapist and, by 2006, a consultant physiotherapist. She completed her masters in 2002 at Brighton University and becoming a member of the Musculoskeletal  Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP).

Over the years, Laura has been at the forefront of professional development in the UK, helping to shape advanced practice frameworks and championing the evolution of physiotherapy roles. Her leadership extended beyond national borders representing the MACP as the  UK delegate for the International Federation of Manual and Musculoskeletal  Physical Therapists (IFOMPT). She went on to become President in 2020 to 2024, driving forward the global MSK agenda.

Her clinical and leadership work has always been rooted in a belief that care must recognise the whole person, not just the condition. As Clinical Director at Sussex MSK Partnership Laura led the development of the innovative “community appointment days” – holistic, multi-agency events that brought together health, social and wellbeing services under one roof. These events helped reduce waiting lists, but more importantly, they transformed how people accessed support. “It was about having a ‘what matters to you?’ conversation,” Laura explains. “By combining this holistic approach with recognising the person as an equal partner in their care, we can truly tailor support to their needs.”

That commitment to doing things differently continues through her role as Expert Clinical Lead at Here where she leads projects such as Rethinking Your Health, a collaboration between Here and the Kings Fund, working with communities in deprived areas to understand and address the barriers people face to living healthy lives. “People know what they need to do,” Laura says, “but pain is often what gets in the way. If we can support people earlier – before pain becomes persistent – we can make a real difference.”

Laura is also internationally recognised for her research and education on serious pathology in MSK practice. She co-authored a global framework published in 2020 that helps clinicians identify and respond early to serious conditions that can present as an MSK condition.

Now at HSU, Laura sees exciting opportunities ahead. “At HSU, there is a real appetite to think differently, to explore what’s possible, and to respond to what’s happening in the system with agility and creativity.”

She hopes to bring a global perspective, a voice of challenge and innovation, and a passion for collaboration across disciplines and communities.

We’re thrilled to have Laura join HSU — a leader, collaborator, and visionary whose experience and energy will help shape the future of MSK health education and practice.