Tina Dawson trained as a registered nurse at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne and spent the following 20 years working in London and the South of England. She has worked as a senior staff nurse on a combined cardiology and coronary care unit in central London, sister on coronary care unit in Surrey and as a cardiac specialist nurse running a rapid access chest pain clinic and cardiovascular risk factor clinic.

Tina moved back to the North East of England in late 2010 and spent some time working for NHS Direct as nurse advisor before starting as Nurse Project Manager for HEART UK in October 2011. Her role at HEART UK involves assisting with the online community at Health Unlocked and HEART UK telephone helpline, giving advice and information to health care professionals and members of the public, as well as involvement in different projects.