Patsy has a background in clinical mammography, including advanced clinical practice, quality assurance, education and management. She has been a researcher at the University of Dundee's Medical School and in NHS Tayside since 2009 and is now Consultant Radiographer in breast imaging at NHS Tayside, while continuing a part-time research role.

Key research interests are women's experiences of mammography, clinical image quality in mammography, and reducing inequalities in breast cancer screening. She is also involved in clinical research involving new breast imaging technologies, such as contrast enhanced mammography.

She has experience of systematic reviewing, and both qualitative and quantitative research methods. She was awarded her PhD in 2022, and her thesis work included the development of new measures of patient experience in mammography.

Current committee memberships are Symposium Mammographicum (Chair of Trustees, member of conference organising committee); EUMAM (European Expert Group for Mammography); CAHPR (Council for Allied Health Research) North of Scotland steering committee, and the Scottish special interest group for breast imaging radiographers (vice-chair).