Bonnie began her career in human genetics, obtaining a first class BSc from McGill University in Canada (1975), an MSc from Queens University in Canada (1977) and a PhD from the University of London in England (1980). As her interest in health care delivery grew, Bonnie moved from genetics to health services research with a particular focus on general practice and primary care. She worked as a research scientist at St George’s Hospital Medical School (London) for 15 years where she became a founding member of the Department of General Practice and Primary Care and led the development of its research portfolio.

On moving to the University of Manchester in 1994, she helped to establish the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre where she has worked since, becoming its Director in 2009. She additionally worked to set up the University of Manchester Institute of Health Sciences which brings together health researchers from across the University of Manchester in partnership with local National Health Service (NHS) trusts to improve health and healthcare practice through high quality research. In 2008, she led the team which bid successfully to found the Greater Manchester CLAHRC. The CLAHRC is a partnership between the University of Manchester and 20 local NHS Trusts which is working to improve health services for people with vascular disease by promoting the uptake of research into everyday NHS practice.

Bonnie was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners in 1996 for her contribution to the development of academic general practice. She chairs the Executive Board of the national Health Services Research Network and the NHS Researcher Development awards committee; and serves on the editorial advisory boards of Health and Social Care in the Community and the Journal of Health Services Research and Policy.