Institute for Health and Care Improvement
Our affiliates
Get to know the affiliates we work with.
The Institute for Health and Care Improvement brings together and showcases the health and social care work of staff and students from across York St John University.
Our affiliates come from across the 6 academic schools and areas of the University:
- School of the Arts
- School of Education, Language and Psychology
- School of Humanities
- School of Science, Technology and Health
- York Business School
- London Campus
- Postgraduate Researchers
About our affiliates
We ask our affiliates to tell us about their work in health and social care. You can read their responses by clicking on the profiles below.
If you want to contact an affiliate directly, please use their email which can be found in their personal profile.
IHCI affiliates
Explore our affiliates by school or campus.
School of Education, Language and Psychology
Lecturer in Psychology
I started as a Lecturer at York St John University in summer 2023, having previously completed my PhD here (2018 to 2022) and held the role of Graduate Teaching Assistant (now Academic Associate). My research interests centre on the topic of future thinking – the human capacity to simulate specific, first-person future events – and its links with memory, motivation and emotion.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am an experimental and applied psychology researcher with interests in emotion/mental health and also the application of social cognitive models in health contexts. I am currently investigating factors influencing perceived control over goal outcomes in a lab context and would like to expand this to consider pursuit of health goals (for example, weight/diet, smoking, intervention adherence).
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The potential to find room for improvement in health outcomes at the level of the cognitive representation of goals - i.e., translational research spanning traditionally very separate research areas.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
To do this work, I would need to build up contacts and gain understanding of NHS institutions and processes.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
At present, my work primarily informs the psychological literature. However, my ideas around goal pursuit and depression/anxiety have potential for impact outside of that, for example, informing new or modified health interventions or guidelines.
Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead, BSc Psychology
I am a senior lecturer and programme lead in Psychology with specific research interests in virtual reality (VR) and their application in education and healthcare (particularly pain management).
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I currently research the use of VR to manage acute pain through experimental lab-based methods, with a specific focus on variables which account for individual differences in the effectiveness of the interventions. I have previously published on the combination of sound and VR to reduce pain, as well as VR for managing intrusive images after trauma, and VR for psychological therapies. Early in my career I completed consultancy work for the Department of Health and Health England prior to taking up a full-time post in academia.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding part of this work is the opportunity to uncover important variables that can positively impact the use of VR in healthcare.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect of this work has been a long run of null effects for variables widely considered as important in the literature but for which there is no published evidence (e.g. prior experience, gender differences, interactivity levels).
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Given the uncertainty about those variables that do have an effect, I hope our work will eventually solve part of this puzzle!
Senior Lecturer
Visit Cristiana's staff profile
Psychologist specialised in Clinical and Health Psychology; researcher in the psychology of eating behaviour, appetite, body image and weight management.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research operates across the fields of mental health, behaviour change and psychology of eating behaviour, with a focus on the measurement and modelling of psychological determinants of appetite and eating behaviour, including psychosocial, emotional and behavioural correlates of appetitive traits, eating behaviour, eating psychopathology and weight management. I am particularly interested in understanding the role of stigma, shame and body shame on the continuum of uncontrolled eating, and on the identification and promotion of protecting mechanisms of eating psychopathology, including body appreciation, compassion and social connectedness.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Translating basic research (including psychometric research, measures' refinement, conceptual models' development) into practice (including interventions’ development and testing) and real-world solutions to improve people's relationships with their eating behaviour and bodies.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
My research has been contributing to developing the measurement and design of conceptual models of eating behaviour which highlight the role of psychosocial variables, including body shame; and the identification of mechanisms of action of intervention approaches that can be applied to the wider population.
Professor of Counselling and Mental Health
I have several decades of experience and expertise in the mental health field and currently am Co-Chair of York's Mental Health Partnership, which includes involvement in NHSE's 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres national pilot. Founder-Director of York St John University's Communities Centre and President of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the world's largest professional body for counselling, psychotherapy, counselling psychology and therapeutic coaching.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I have worked in the mental health field for several decades and have worked as a nurse, psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and researcher. I am Co-Chair of York's Mental Health Partnership, which includes involvement in NHSE's 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres national pilot. My work includes being Founder-Director of York St John University's Communities Centre and President of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have a philosophical, theoretical and clinical interest in practice ethics and have written textbooks, chapters and papers on navigating ethics in practice.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Having played a key role in mental health transformation through the innovative and collaborative work as co-chair of the mental health partnership has been both enormously challenging, and also hugely gratifying. Importantly, working in collaborative contexts and company has been, and remains, such a richly rewarding way of being, working and relating.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
One of the most challenging and complicated aspects the work has been navigating the complexities of system change! Many organisations, groups and people are involved in the design, delivery and evaluation of mental health and wellbeing provision. Patience, persistence and a belief in the power and sustainability of truly co-designed and co-produced services, has provided an important foundation.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
My work with BACP during the Covid-19 pandemic, and provision of online training, played an important part of supporting professionals to move their practice from in-person to online platforms. My work on ethics has been a core part of practitioner training across the counselling professions, and I am currently an expert consultant for BACP's revision to their Ethical Framework (2018).
Professor of Developmental Psychology and Inclusive Education
I am a developmental psychologist with a focus on neurodivergence (including autism, ADHD and dyslexia) in children and young people. I lead the Research in Neurodiversity, Environment and Wellbeing (ReNEW) group, which includes academics and PGRS from Psychology, Health Sciences, Education and Arts.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
While much of my research takes place in educational contexts (schools and universities), I also collaborate with colleagues in the NHS on projects relating to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. For example, I am currently a co-investigator on the DIVERT study, a collaboration with the Child Oriented Mental Health Innovation Collaborative (COMIC) at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This NIHR-funded project evaluates the acceptability and feasibility of a self-help intervention for young people who engage in self-harm behaviours.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I love working on co-produced research with children and young people. They always have a lot to teach researchers!
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Recruitment of children and young people to projects that focus on stigmatised topics such has self-harm can be difficult.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope that my work can help to encourage education and healthcare providers to adopt neurodiversity-affirming practices, which will contribute to improved life outcomes for neurodivergent children and young people.
Senior Lecturer
After working as an interpreter, I worked in language training and as a research assistant before moving to the British Council and later the Research Councils (now UKRI). I then completed my PhD and two postdocs before taking up a teaching position at Queen's University Belfast as a Lecturer (Education), and then moving to York St John as a senior lecturer in 2022.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Two relevant collaborative projects:
I am interested in how healthcare providers take memories of pain into account when determining whether differences in expected cost of treatments can be justified in terms of differences in expected health effects. I recently applied for QR funding to examine the effect of anticipated memories of pain on preferences about changes in health-related quality of life.
I am working to validate a measure of closeness between preschool children and grandparents. This will be useful in researching the ways in which bonds between grandchildren and their grandparents, which influence grandparents’ wellbeing, can be developed and supported.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Pain memories: it will be rewarding to see interdisciplinary work with philosophers applied directly to health systems.
Grandparent-grandchild closeness: this has created gratifying participant interest, likely due to increasing reliance of distant grandparents on video chat; this new measure can support research investigating how to build relationships via such chats.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Pain memories: collaboration with the NHS will be complex and require strong networks.
Grandparent-grandchild closeness: survey-based research is a new direction for me, again requiring strong networks and insights from additional collaborators.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Pain memories: in the long term, an influence on the way bodies that estimate health state utility values such as QALYs go about this.
Grandparent-grandchild closeness: new knowledge about the best way to support relationship-building between young children and their grandparents via video chat.
Managing Director of Living Autism
I have a Masters in Education Management and am currently undertaking an EdD at York St John on Autism and Old Age. I have worked in the field of Education, Health and Care focusing on autism and neurodiversity at director level for the past 23 years.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Currently I am the Managing Director of Living Autism, an organisation supporting autism and neurodiversity. As well as signposting, we deliver training, coaching and mentoring to autistic and neurodivergent individuals. We also offer consultancy to organisations and managers on all aspects of neurodiversity. We run an Autism Champions and Learning Disabilities course at Tier 2 which helps health and care services fulfil the training mandate in the Health and Care Act 2022. We work closely with health, local authority and independent provider services.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Spreading awareness and understanding and seeing positive changes being made to practice in supporting vulnerable people through their challenges so their strengths can be reached to their fullest potential to the individual's wishes.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Convincing employers and service providers of the importance of knowledge and understanding when they sometimes view training or consultancy as a cost without taking into account the benefits.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
By ensuring the right support for each individual, there is a real benefit to that person's mental wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of their families. With knowledge and understanding employment rates can increase, health outcomes can improve, the pressure on mental health services can decrease and the number of neurodivergent individuals who enter the criminal justice system can also decrease.
Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in Counselling Psychology
I am a Chartered and HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in Counselling Psychology. I am also an Applied Psychology Practitioner Supervisor with the BPS and a Fellow with Advance HE. I graduated from the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at York St John University in 2022. I teach and supervise research on the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and the BSc Psychology with Counselling. My research and clinical interests include body image, eating disorders and perfectionism.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am a Chartered and HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and have worked as a clinician in a range of settings, including NHS services and independent practice, working with clients across the lifespan, using a range of therapeutic modalities. My clinical expertise includes body image and eating disorders, specialising in CBT and third wave approaches, and working with children and young people. I am also an Applied Psychology Practitioner Supervisor with the BPS and provide clinical group supervision on the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at YSJ, as well as providing teaching and training for trainee counselling psychologists. My research also aims to promote greater understanding into the clinical issues and client groups I work with.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding and inspiring aspect of my clinical work is developing effective therapeutic relationships with clients and supporting people to make positive changes and live fulfilling lives. I also find it very rewarding to contribute to clinical understanding through research, teaching and supervision.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect of this work is hearing the difficult experiences and challenges that people have faced and ensuring my research, teaching and supervision have a positive impact on challenging clinical issues.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
My work as a clinician, lecturer, supervisor and researcher go hand in hand to build greater understanding of issues I am very passionate about, and to make positive change to people's lives - whether that be in clinical care, or teaching and learning contexts.
Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor, Deputy Associate Head
Visit Stephanie's staff profile
Doctorate (ClinPsyD) in Clinical Psychology to become a HCPC registered chartered clinical psychologist; second doctorate (PhD) from the Institute of Mental Health. Combining academic and research offerings to better understand personal experiences of mental health.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Practicing clinical psychologist, providing diagnostic assessments, post-diagnostic and therapeutic support for autistic young people and adults. Informing practice and policy in the NHS. Research outputs inform the practice of MDT clinicians. Created free self-help wellbeing resources (www.yorksj.ac.uk/emotions).
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Using the best tools we have across disciplines to best support our clients/patients.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Misunderstanding/different priorities - clinicians not being valued in academia; single experts being value more than systems of collaborative expertise.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Re-conceptualised, compassionate understandings of neurodivergences, informed by lived experience, that represent more neurodivergent people. Reduced mental health diagnoses for neurodivergent people. Increased clinician confidence in working with neurodivergent patients. Increased used of suitably designed assessment tools and therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent people.
Senior Lecturer
I have a professional background in youth and community work in both the statutory and voluntary sector. I am now a Senior Lecturer teaching across the Children, Young People and Education courses.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research interests focus around young people, youth work and partnership. I am the YSJ representative on the Raise York Board, a cross sector partnership that aims to bring together all those working with children, young people and families in York from across to improve outcomes. I convene the Raise York Research network, that draws together academics from across the region to develop research that aligns with Raise objectives to work collaboratively with partners to seek to improve services.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Using research to make a difference!
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Working in partnership, managing competing agendas, requirements, timescales, ethics and budget constraints.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Draw on existing data and research to develop services and practice so that children and young people and families in York benefit.
Senior Lecturer
Visit Jennifer's staff profile
Following completion of my PhD, I worked as a post-doc for 3 years before starting my first academic post at York St John as a lecturer. I am now a senior lecturer, specialising in cognitive psychology; specifically prospective cognition in mental health.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research interests encompass the relationship between prospective cognition and psychological well-being/distress, as well as exploring strategies to enhance prospective cognition. My recent work has focused on examining the impact of mental imagery on behavioural engagement in depression. Additionally, I am supervising a PhD project that investigates the self in anxiety, with the latest work examining the use of the best possible self-technique as a method for improving anxiety.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding part of this work is investigating ways to enhance prospective thinking in those with depression and anxiety. It's inspiring to contribute to research that focuses on improving mental health, something that can create meaningful change in people's lives.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect of research in this field is securing funding.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Helping individuals envision brighter futures (improving their prospective cognition), which in turn can improve their mental health.
Lecturer in Psychology
I am a Lecturer in Psychology, and my professional qualifications include a PhD in Psychological Medicine, MSc in Health Psychology (Distinction), and BSc (Hons, First Class) in Psychology. I have been involved in multiple research projects, including research based on successful grant applications, that have focused on improving the health and wellbeing of adults with learning disabilities using a range of different methodologies.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research is solutions focused and centred around understanding how to tackle health and social inequalities experienced by adults with learning disabilities. I am particularly interested in health behavioural aspects, such as physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Examples of research include studies developed to understand the capabilities, opportunities and motivations of walking among adults with learning disabilities, a feasibility study for an active play intervention for children with additional support needs, and co-leading a comprehensive large scale mixed-methods evidence synthesis of complex lifestyle modifications for adults with learning disabilities.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding aspect comes from collaborating and working with other researchers, self-advocacy groups, and people with lived experiences. Additionally, there is the hope that the research being done can have a real and meaningful impact.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Health based research is not always inclusive for people with learning disabilities. For example, exploring abstract concepts and using complicated methods. I strongly believe in working with people with lived experiences, and a challenging aspect has involved making information and methods accessible for everyone.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope that my published work is informing other researchers interested in developing behaviour change interventions for adults with learning disabilities, and emphasising the importance of working with people with learning disabilities throughout the research process. My research also has the potential to enhance understanding of the application of behaviour change theory to physical activity and sedentary behaviour of adults with learning disabilities (COM-B Model; Michie et al. 2014), and emphasising the importance of considering the impact of other intersecting identities, such as gender.
Academic Associate, PhD Candidate
I am an Academic Associate in Psychology and my PhD is a creative and participatory investigation of the experience of loneliness for autistic young people.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research interests are around mental health and wellbeing, with a focus on improving the lives of autistic young people. My PhD project is centred around autistic experiences of loneliness and proposes a re-conceptualisation of loneliness from autistic perspectives. I am also interested in investigating personal strategies that can promote feelings of wellbeing and belonging and are meaningful to autistic young people.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I enjoy connecting with different people and listening to perspectives that are different from my own.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Securing appropriate funding to conduct participatory research and managing to reach co-researchers can be challenging.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope to contribute to a culture of inclusion, where decisions are made with autistic people (rather than for autistic people).
School of Humanities
Lecturer in Geography
I am a lecturer in geography focusing on animal and disability geographies. I have previously worked as an ESRC postdoc and I currently teach on modules around nature, animals, and culture.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My research centres around disability, particularly with assistance dog handlers. My research looks at care and training between assistance dog handlers and assistance dog. My research is based in geography looking at the spatial aspects of care and training.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I find the most rewarding thing to be learning about people's lived experiences, and how they trust me with their stories.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging part is trying to do justice with people's lived experiences and the stories I am told.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work is having an impact both on the individuals I am working with and more broadly on the fields of geography, animal studies, and disability studies. I feel my work can have an impact on policy.
School of Science, Technology and Health
CEO, Visiting Professor
I am currently Visiting Professor at York St John and deliver sessions for students around public health, the importance of quality in healthcare management, MDT working. I am also involved with the school of social science setting case studies for students.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am CEO of a national charity providing training and support for people with chronic pain. As a leading expert in chronic pain healthcare management across the UK, I have strong experience of developing business models which align with key performance outcomes and service re-design.
I was appointed Visiting Professor at York St John University in 2021 in recognition for my accomplishments in the field of healthcare management and, as such, have been keynote speaker at numerous conferences and am now working with other world leading universities.
My research initiatives in the field of chronic pain outcomes and raising awareness are ongoing as well as contributing at national level through Parliamentary committees with the UK and Scottish Governments - advising on future policy to inform future strategic decision making.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The hunger for further research developments and seeing the difference this is making to people's lives.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Funding is always the most challenging - being asked to do much with so little. However this is often what makes the work so exciting.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I would like the work to take me further down the road of showcasing how to better read into evaluations as small steps to making a difference.
Senior Lecturer
I am a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology and Group Director of the Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health (PAtCH) Research Group.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My main research interests are investigating the effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on physical and mental health.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Being able to contribute towards generating new knowledge that has the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of different population groups.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Sourcing funding to be able to conduct the research projects I would like to complete.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my research can contribute towards promoting increased physical activity levels and decreased sedentary behaviour across different population groups, which will in turn improve various health outcomes.
Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy
I am a highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist and academic with an interest in autism and neuro related conditions.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I have specialised in paediatric complex needs, including autism and childhood cancers, with postgraduate qualifications in eating, drinking and swallowing needs as well as research.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Communication and feeding are both fascinating areas and integral to all aspects of life. There's so much to learn and so much we don't yet know.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
When we over-generalise something that is very heterogeneous, personal and unique.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I feel most fulfilled in my profession when I help a person (and their carers) to understand themselves better and then enable them to reach their potential.
Postgraduate Researcher
I am an Occupational Therapist working in the NHS, completing my undergraduate degree at The University of Derby in 2002, a Masters in Professional Health Studies in 2008 at York St John University, and returned to do part-time PhD research regarding ADHD and Sensory processing which started in 2022. Prior to starting the PhD, I completed a PgCert in Sensory Integration at Sheffield Hallam University in 2022. My career has spanned adults and children's services, primarily in children's therapies and now in adult neurodiversity services where I lead the adult autism diagnostic service in the Hull and East Riding area.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am a postgraduate researcher in Occupational Therapy Research, my research is focused on the sensory processing experiences of adults with ADHD. I also work full time with the NHS as an Advanced Occupational Therapist both leading the Adult Autism Diagnostic Service operationally and completing autism diagnostic assessments.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Being able to blend both clinical practice and research is the best possible outcome for me, actually working towards building better services for patients in an evidence-based way.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Managing my time and maintaining a work-life balance.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I aspire to improve the life experiences for neurodivergent people. I want to contribute to flying the flag for Occupational Therapy, to demonstrate how as a profession we are motivated, research-active and highly valuable in terms of what we bring to healthcare and peoples lives.
Postgraduate Researcher
HCPC-registered Biomedical Scientist with a strong background in biochemistry, specializing in the development of novel chemotherapeutics. Experienced in mammalian cell culture, cell viability assays, and spectrophotometric analysis, with a proven track record in designing and executing experiments to assess drug efficacy and cellular response in preclinical research.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My career encompasses two distinct roles within health and research. In a healthcare setting, I work in a pre-analytical laboratory, where I handle and process patient blood samples to support accurate diagnostics and treatment decisions. This work ensures that high-quality, reliable samples are prepared for further testing, contributing directly to patient care. Separately, in the field of biomedical research, I focus on the validation of novel chemotherapeutic agents, using advanced cell-based assays and viability studies. This research aims to assess the efficacy and potential of new drugs, ultimately moving promising cancer treatments closer to clinical application.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I find it incredibly rewarding to contribute to patient care through accurate blood sample analysis and to advance cancer treatment by validating new chemotherapeutics. Knowing that my work supports immediate healthcare needs and drives future therapeutic innovations inspires me to make a meaningful impact in both areas.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect is balancing the precision required in pre-analytical blood sample processing with the complexity of validating chemotherapeutics in research, where each step demands meticulous attention to accuracy and reproducibility. Managing these dual responsibilities requires adaptability, as each role presents unique challenges and standards essential to patient care and innovation.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work improves patient outcomes by ensuring accurate diagnostics through blood analysis and advances cancer treatment through the validation of new chemotherapeutics. Ultimately, I aim to support immediate healthcare needs while contributing to innovative therapies that offer future patients more effective, targeted treatment options.
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Postgraduate Researcher
I am a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and PhD candidate at York St John University, focusing on the psycho-physical interactions in Parkinson's Disease to enhance understanding of the relationship between physical and psychological symptoms. I am actively engaged in research while also developing new physiotherapy services for adults in mental health settings, contributing to both clinical practice and academic knowledge.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am a health and social care researcher pursuing a PhD in physiotherapy. My research delves into the intricate relationship between physical and mental health, particularly in conditions like Parkinson's disease and serious mental illnesses. My work aims to improve healthcare access and promote healthy lifestyle changes in these populations, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and supportive healthcare system for all. By understanding the barriers faced by these groups, my research seeks to inform policy and practice, leading to more effective interventions and improved quality of life.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding aspect of my work is the opportunity to improve our understanding of human health and well-being. It is inspiring to know that my research can potentially improve the lives of individuals/communities, especially those who face significant health challenges. The collaborative nature of research adds to this experience.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
One of the most challenging aspects of this work is navigating the complexities of human behaviour and the multifaceted nature of health conditions. It requires a deep understanding of both physical and psychological factors, as well as the social and environmental influences that shape individual experiences.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my research will contribute to a better understanding of the factors that influence health and well-being, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable populations. By identifying barriers to healthcare access and promoting evidence-based interventions, I aim to improve the quality of life for individuals with complex health needs.
Senior Lecturer, BSc PhD FHEA
I am a trained virologist/immunologist with international research experience. Since commencing at YSJU I have developed a portfolio of interdisciplinary biomarker-based projects which have received external funding. I serve as on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Biomedical Science and am a founding member of the COLAAB, an international consortium with the objective to reduce the need for animal testing in biomedical research.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Immunology/virology laboratory background. Now focused on biomarkers in health and disease and cancer drug development.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Finding new discoveries and work with talented students in these endeavours.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Lab-based work requires a significant element of troubleshooting.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
New biomarkers in health and disease, for example finding biomarkers of burnout in different populations. Discover novel targets for the next generation of anti-cancer drugs.
Lecturer in Nursing
I am a registered nurse and non-medical prescriber who is currently completing a PhD. My current employment responsibilities including Lecturing in Nursing and undertaking nurse-led research including acting as a Chief Investigator for a NIHR funded study.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
As an academic nurse-researcher, my role in health and social care is to improve and advance evidence-based practice, patient outcomes, and shape healthcare policies. Through designing and conducting studies, I aim to better understand the patient experience in order to provide clinically appropriate recommendations for patient care while addressing the challenges within today's healthcare systems. My current work in Inflammatory Bowel Disease aims to provide a unique nursing perspective to men's health and the possible implications of living with the disease.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most inspiring part of my research is giving a voice to those who live with the disease and seeking to ensure the healthcare provided to them is patient-centric and of value. As an educator, it is also rewarding to see students develop the skills to undertake research in their careers.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Gaining research funding and support. Recruitment of participants to studies. The time to build new collaborations.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work will challenge stigma, foster equitable healthcare and promote awareness of the role and contribution of the nursing profession.
Physiotherapist
Senior orthopaedic and musculoskeletal physiotherapist with a special interest in the upper limb. Responsible for teaching and assessing learning on the BSc Physiotherapy, MSc Pre-reg Physiotherapy programmes and post graduate modules. Creation and delivery of professional CPD days for clinicians.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Ongoing research into rehabilitation of atraumatic shoulder instability and burn out in first contact practitioners. Published work on qualitative experiences of First Contact Practitioners in primary care.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Inspiring and preparing the next generation of physiotherapists to deliver evidence-based effective services and to develop sound clinical reasoning skills. Knowing that my research outputs are having a positive impact on healthcare delivery.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Maintaining professional development in physiotherapy and the evidence base/research that underpins our practice while also developing pedagogical skills a teacher in tertiary education and conducting research!
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope that my work has a positive impact on healthcare services and the care that patients receive.
MSK Advanced Clinical Specialist and PGR Student
Having completed a BSc in Sports Science and MSc Pre-registration in Physiotherapy I've worked in the NHS and elite sport, as well as lectured at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. I currently work in the NHS as an MSK Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist whilst completing my PhD part time, as part of a joint clinical fellowship between York St John and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
As a MSK Advanced Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist I assess and manage patients with musculoskeletal problems in clinic as well as our gyms. Typically this involves advice and guidance on managing their condition, exercise advice, and on occasion corticosteroid injections. I work with two other ACS's to lead the rehab arm of our MSK outpatients service offering support to colleagues as well as leading service improvement projects.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I find inspiration in listening to people, helping them piece together fragmented information to understand their problem and create a plan. In research, my curiosity drives me to explore questions in healthcare and, at times, find answers that can improve care and decision-making.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The biggest challenges in clinical practise are the time constraints, and the influence of our social determinants of health. In research, embracing the vast unknown as an early career researcher can feel overwhelming, yet it's also a key part of learning. Often your tackling problems for the first time, and you have to be resilient.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
Through my clinical practise I aim to help people manage their condition better, and hopefully improve their quality of life. I hope my current research will help clinicians better manage iliotibial band syndrome (pain on the outside of the knee when running), and in the future I aim to help healthcare staff and patients make better decisions about their care.
PGR student
I graduated from a biomedical science degree at York St John University. At the moment I am doing full time postgraduate research in Microbiology and working part time in York and Scarborough hospital.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My current research focuses on monitoring the water microbiome within the hospital's water distribution system. While these bacteria typically pose no threat to healthy individuals, immunocompromised and other patients with underlying conditions are at significant risk of infection from opportunistic pathogens present in the premise plumbing. My work involves evaluating the effectiveness of current health technical memoranda for hospital water safety and developing rapid identification methods for these pathogens in order to better protect vulnerable patients.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The microscopic world holds countless secrets waiting to be unlocked. Exploring these hidden realms offers exciting possibilities for scientific advancement. Research in this field can lead to breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.
Dedication to such important work yields immense personal and professional satisfaction. The potential to improve lives through scientific discovery fuels ongoing exploration and innovation.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Balancing the demands of full-time research with a part-time job requires careful time management. This all has taught me to prioritise tasks and maintain a realistic schedule. Trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance is crucial and also one of biggest challenges I face.
Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy
I spent over 10 years working as an Occupational Therapist in mental health and learning disability services before moving into academia where I teach on the BSc and MSc Occupational Therapy programmes. I am engaged in PhD research using qualitative and participatory methods, with autistic young people investigating the impact of mainstream school experiences on their developing identity.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I spent over ten years working in adult learning disability and mental health services before moving into academia. I have worked in most settings, for example, community, inpatient PICU, acute and challenging behaviour services, long stay hospital care, medium secure services and assertive outreach. I maintain currency with practice, as a mentor and clinical supervisor to Occupational Therapist's and support workers who work in learning disability and autism services.
I facilitate the quarterly York Autism community of practice which is a research-informed professional development and networking opportunity for autistic adults and their carers, regional practitioners and community partners with an interest in autism.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I find supporting student's learning journeys rewarding. I gain a lot of satisfaction from my research with autistic young people and their families and being able to use this in my teaching.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I enjoy being able to use my research in my teaching. The ultimate aim for my PhD research is to coproduce an intervention aimed at school teachers to support them make school more inclusive for autistic young people. I hope this research will also be impactful on the practice of Occupational Therapists.
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy
Visit Charikleia's staff profile
I am a Chartered Physiotherapist and have worked in Greece and in the NHS, specializing in children with neurodisabilities. I have an MSc in Neurorehabilitation and a PhD in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) funded by the ‘State Foundation of Scholarships’ (Greece). I worked as a senior lecturer in Manchester Metropolitan, Leeds Beckett and currently York St John Universities. I have been the leader of the Yorkshire CAHPR since 2005 and since 2023 the Consortium Lead of the Yorkshire and the Humber CAHPR.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
My own research focuses on Neuro Disabilities such as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) known as ‘Dyspraxia’ and Cerebral Palsy (CP). My recent work examines the impact of these disorders, the prevalence of psychosocial symptoms and its association with motor impairment. Other areas of research interests and expertise include: praxis, imitation and its application to motor learning, imagery, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and its application to clinical populations, laterality/hand preference, quantitative and qualitative methodologies, mixed- methodologies and single case studies.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Working in research is inspiring, challenging, rewarding and life-changing. You have to think outside the box and be very innovative. What I love the most is to be able to advocate and make a change in these children's life and their families.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Recruiting participants, gaining funding and trying to maintain a work-life balance.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I am hoping to make a change in these children's lives and their families.
Senior Lecturer
Following 15 years in patient-facing roles I have worked as an academic since 2021. I am currently undertaking a PhD exploring the incidence, impact, and implications of ADHD among Student Paramedics.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am no longer a frontline clinician, I spent 10 years in the ambulance service - 8 of those as a qualified paramedic, and 5 years in primary care as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. I now teach Paramedic Science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I enjoy seeing students graduate as well-rounded, resilient, enthusiastic clinicians.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The nature of the programme means that discussion and debate are commonplace, this keeps me on my toes and forces me to remain up to date.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I'm hoping that the PhD will shape pedagogy in paramedic education, leading to a more resilient workforce and addressing the rapid turnover and burnout of staff.
Lecturer
I hold a PhD in Clinical Immunology and an MPH degree in epidemiology, public health and infectious diseases. I have in Africa and in the UK and my experience includes working with public health data, evaluating disease trends, and identifying opportunities for effective policy interventions.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am passionate about bringing interdisciplinary partnerships to address complex global health challenges and to improve health and social care.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I am excited about the opportunity to collaborate with experts from diverse backgrounds and using multi-disciplinary approaches to shape policy and interventions that address the most pressing health challenges faced by vulnerable populations in the UK, and globally.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
As I see it, a major challenge of this work is getting the different disciplines to agree on what the priorities are, both for clinical practice and for research. Ultimately, this indirectly impacts funding priorities.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
My overall goal is to do work that impacts policy, in some way, and in so doing, improve lives and access to health care.
Senior Lecturer
Visit Jonathan's staff profile
I am a trained physiotherapist and prior to my current academic role have had extensive experience within the NHS as a musuloskeletal specialist and Consultant Physiotherapist. In my current role I am professional course lead for physiotherapy and lead the Advanced Healthcare Practice research group.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Professional Course Lead for the University's 2 physiotherapy programmes and lead on our postgraduate provision of advanced practice musculoskeletal MSc modules. I am an active health researcher with a special interest in advanced practice and decision making.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The ability to engage with, and teach a new generation of physiotherapists who will influence the future of healthcare provision. Also the chance to develop and undertake research projects which could impact practice.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Ensuring our physiotherapy courses maintain currency in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
That we are producing university graduates who are ready for the challenges of modern physiotherapy practice and that our research is able to positively influence current and future clinical practice.
York Business School
Lecturer in Healthcare Management
Business/ Management / Healthcare Management Lecturer for past 6 years. Programme Lead for different Business Management programmes FHEQ level ranging from 4-7. Actively worked in curriculum development, academic quality assurance, policy and procedure developement, working with compliance bodies like QAA, OFS and standardisations like ISO 28000:1. I currently manage team of 11 associate lectures and also work as casual academic/ seminar tutor for BDVC/EHM, supervisor for Capstone Project and Supervisor for Business Consultancy Project, Academic tutor, and working with SQP team for DME analysis.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Seminar Lecturer at York St John University for Healthcare Managemement Module.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding thing about teaching at York is the diverse set of students I get to see and teach, the modules I teach allow me to have a discussion and share and impart my knowledge with them. Mostly when I'm towards ending my seminar sessions, I get to hear positive feedback on how I have brought change to their lives.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
To manage different expectations of both students and the module directors. Each class and their students are different and so working with different colleagues and their expectations to be delivered into the class. Some module directors are demanding whereas with some I do have flexibility to support.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I'm pleased to mention that from past one year of teaching at York St John, I can see the impact my teaching and supervision has on students. I feel blessed to receive emails from students long after I've even completed tutoring them and asking for academic advice and reference.
Lecturer in Sustainability, Tourism and Heritage Management
I specialise in Sustainability, Tourism, and Heritage studies including research themes, such as community identity and participation, contested landscapes, sustainable land management practices, land ownership, power dynamics, and social and ecological inequalities. My research explores culture and nature relationships within the context of the biodiversity and climate crises in the Anthropocene. In particular, my research has focused on green spaces mainly UK National Parks, and has used social science research methods including walking interviews. Before returning to academic life in 2017, I worked as a Heritage and Tourism Consultant for 5 years designing strategic plans and conducting audience research projects for National Lottery Heritage Fund projects at heritage and landscape sites across the United Kingdom.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I research the impact of protected landscapes and National Parks on peoples' health and well being exploring research themes such as ecotourism and community participation. I explore the significance of green spaces on peoples' mental and physical health. Taking a participatory research perspective, I look to work with community partners and organisations on these research themes.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
This type of research can make a difference to improve peoples' everyday lives and their health and well being.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Sometimes it is getting partners to understand the importance of high quality research to their organisation.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
It can improve access for a diverse range of communities to green spaces such as National Parks. So people can understand the tangible benefits of spending times in green spaces and the time they spend in natural environments can improve their health. Also from a social and ecological justice perspective, that people have more equal opportunities to spend time in green spaces.
London Campus
I hold a Bachelor's degree in Public Health (Disease Control) and an MSc in Public Health, with 4 years of experience as a Disease Control Officer in Ghana, focusing on infectious disease prevention, outbreak management, and routine immunisation. Currently, I conduct research and community health education while supporting public health interventions and capacity building.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
As a Public Health Officer (Disease Control) I focuses on preventing and managing diseases within populations. I design and implement disease surveillance systems, coordinate immunization campaigns, investigate outbreaks, and educate communities on health promotion and prevention strategies. My work ensures timely responses to health threats and minimizes disease spread.
Also as a Researcher in Health, I investigate health issues to generate evidence for policy and practice. I design studies, analyse data, and publish findings on topics like disease risk factors, interventions, and health systems. My work informs decision-making, improves health outcomes, and advances scientific understanding in areas like epidemiology, public health, and clinical care.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding and inspiring aspect of this work is the opportunity to make a tangible impact on community health by preventing diseases, improving lives, and promoting equity. Witnessing positive health outcomes and contributing to evidence-based solutions that shape policies and transform lives provides immense fulfillment and purpose.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect of this work is addressing health inequities amidst resource constraints and complex sociocultural dynamics. Balancing immediate public health needs with long-term preventive strategies, managing misinformation, and ensuring stakeholder collaboration while adapting to evolving health threats requires resilience, innovation, and effective communication skills.
Senior Lecturer and School Research Knowledge Transfer Co-Lead
Visit Obasanjo's staff profile
I am a Senior Lecturer in Public Health at York St John University, London, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health, health inequalities, and public health interventions. I have extensive experience in teaching, research, and public health projects, particularly in marginalised communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am currently a principal investigator for two projects, where I focus on addressing health inequalities through research. My work centres on maternal, sexual and reproductive health, particularly for marginalised communities such as people with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa. I also lead public health interventions aimed at improving maternal health and healthcare service utilisation. Through my role, I engage in developing evidence-based strategies and programmes to enhance access to quality healthcare, promoting inclusivity and equity in health and social care services.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
What I find most rewarding and inspiring is the ability to make a tangible impact on marginalised communities, improving their access to essential healthcare services. Knowing that my research contributes to reducing health inequalities and promoting inclusivity in public health motivates me every day.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect is securing sufficient funding to implement and sustain public health interventions, as well as to monitor their long-term impact. While research generates valuable insights, limited resources often hinder the practical application and scalability of these solutions, especially in marginalised communities where the need is greatest.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I envisage that my work will improve healthcare access for marginalised communities, particularly women with disabilities, by influencing public health policies and interventions. My goal is to reduce health inequalities, promote inclusivity, and ensure that vulnerable populations receive the necessary support for better health outcomes.
Lecturer in Global Healthcare Management
I am a mixed-method researcher and a public health professional. Most of my experience has been in qualitative research in Nepal and my research area of interest include migration from low- and middle-income countries.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I am currently working as a Lecturer in the MSc Global Healthcare Management programme at York St John University London campus. I am also finishing up my PhD in Public Health from the University of Huddersfield where I am looking the impact of men's international labour migration on the health and relationships of their wives who remain behind in Nepal. I have over twelve years of experience in health research in various areas including nutrition, behaviour change, school health, and smoking cessation among others.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Researching unanswered questions and interacting with a range of stakeholders including academics, policymakers, community, and civil-society organisations is what I find very interesting and inspiring. Interacting with the community where I have the opportunity as a primarily qualitative researcher to observe and listen to their experiences, and knowing that I have played a role in capturing their voices and communicating/disseminating it, so that ultimately it can lead to progressive change is what I find rewarding.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Managing time, and the challenges of publishing and grant writing are slightly challenging.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
As I mentioned earlier, communicating the voices of my participants earnestly to key stakeholders including programmers and policymakers, who can bring about necessary change to make the lives of the target population better is what I hope my work is achieving.
Lecturer in Digital Marketing
Visit Brighton's staff profile
I am a CABS (UK) Certified Business and Management Educator (CMBE) who holds a PhD in Marketing. I am a full time Digital Marketing academic and Unit of Assessment Lead for Business and Management Studies at York St John University (YSJU), London Campus, England, United Kingdom, member of the Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ), The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), United Kingdom and Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), Dublin, Ireland. I have produced books with Routledge of Taylor and Francis Group, CAB International United Kingdom (UK), Palgrave MacMillan, and published in reputable international journals.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
Digital marketing and health and social care research are increasingly intertwined in several impactful ways:
- Patient Engagement and Education: Digital marketing strategies, such as social media campaigns and targeted ads, are used to disseminate health information, educate patients about conditions and treatments, and promote healthy behaviours. This enhances patient engagement and empowers individuals to make informed health decisions.
- Data Collection and Analysis: Digital marketing tools can gather vast amounts of data from online interactions, which researchers can analyse to understand health trends, patient behaviours, and the effectiveness of health interventions. This data-driven approach helps tailor health services to meet the specific needs of different populations.
- Recruitment for Clinical Trials: Digital marketing effectively recruits participants for clinical trials. Online ads, social media posts, and email campaigns can reach a broad audience quickly, increasing the diversity and number of participants in health research studies.
- Behavioural Insights: By analysing online behaviour, digital marketing provides insights into how people search for health information, what content they engage with, and their preferences. This information is valuable for designing more effective health interventions and communication strategies.
- Telehealth and Remote Monitoring: Digital marketing promotes telehealth services and remote monitoring tools, which have become essential in modern healthcare. These technologies enable continuous patient care and data collection, crucial for ongoing health research and improving patient outcomes.
- Personalised Health Communication: Digital marketing allows for personalised communication based on individual health data and preferences. This tailored approach can improve patient adherence to treatment plans and enhance the overall effectiveness of health interventions.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
Behavioural and social change among citizens.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Behaviour change is elusive. It takes time and patience.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
The research will contribute to active research based teaching, innovation, community development, industrialisation and commercialisation of transformational ideas.
Lecturer in Health Analytics
I have a robust background in public health and global health management, holding an MSc in Global Public Health, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and multiple certifications from renowned organisations such as WHO and CDC. Currently, I teach applied research and health analytics to MSc Public Health and Global Healthcare Management while also conducting research on several health challenges such as mental health and guiding students through research and dissertation as their supervisor. I am also a reviewer for Cureus (Springer Nature) and the Journal of Public Health.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
In the field of health and social care, I focus on public health and global health management, emphasising health disparities, maternal health challenges and health disparities. I teach applied research and health analytics, fostering students' skills in critical analysis and evidence-based decision-making. Additionally, I volunteer with the NHS, contributing to community health initiatives and gaining practical insights that inform my research and teaching. My work also involves guiding students in conducting research, pastoral support and enhancing their understanding of the intersection between health outcomes and social determinants, ultimately aiming to improve health equity and community well-being.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding aspect of my work is witnessing students develop critical skills and confidence, empowering them to make a difference in public health and healthcare management. I am inspired by the potential to improve health equity, particularly for marginalised populations, and by the positive impact my research and teaching can have on communities.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect of my work is addressing the multifaceted barriers to health equity, particularly among marginalised populations. Navigating complex social determinants and disparities in healthcare access requires continuous adaptation of strategies, collaboration across disciplines, and persistent advocacy to create sustainable change, which can be both demanding and time-consuming.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work will significantly contribute to reducing health disparities, particularly for women, mothers, LGBTQ+ populations and other marginalised and minor groups and communities by informing evidence-based policies and practices. By equipping students with the knowledge and skills to advocate for health equity, I aim to inspire future leaders who will drive systemic change in public health and social care.
Academic Student Education Tutor
I have a medical and public health background, with 2 years of experience as a Public Health Practitioner specialising in tobacco dependency. Currently, I work as an Academic Student Education Tutor, dedicated to ensuring high quality teaching, learning, and academic experiences for students in both curricular and extracurricular activities.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
As an Academic Student Education Tutor for health care, I design, deliver, and support activities that promote student development, ensuring that each student's journey is enriching, and their potential is maximised. I collaborate with academic and professional staff to enhance the overall academic experience for students. Additionally, I assist students and staff in utilising digital systems for coaching, pastoral care, career development, and reflective practice.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
What I find most rewarding about this work is the opportunity to impact students' lives. Watching them grow and achieve their potential is fulfilling. Moreover, collaborating with dedicated staff to foster a supportive learning environment motivates me to continually strive for excellence in my role.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
Staying current with the latest digital tools and educational practices to enhance the student experience can be challenging. However, these challenges are also what make my work rewarding, as they motivate me to continuously improve and adapt my methods to better serve the students.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work fosters confidence and essential skills in students, creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. By empowering them to engage with their studies, I aim to contribute to their development as well-rounded professionals who will make meaningful contributions to health and social care.
Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Visit Muhammad's staff profile
It has been my privilege to have authored more than 60 scholarly articles that have been indexed by top-tier platforms such as Web of Science, ABS, ABDC, and Scopus. In publications such as Sustainable Development and Technological Forecasting and Social Change, I have explored topics ranging from sustainable entrepreneurship to high-performance work systems.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I contribute to the field of health and social care through research, teaching, and leadership in higher education and policy development. My work focuses on healthcare management, digital transformation in healthcare, and social innovation. I engage in interdisciplinary research addressing mental health, healthcare accessibility, and the role of technology in improving patient outcomes. Through my teaching and mentoring, I support students and professionals in developing the skills necessary to drive sustainable and ethical advancements in health and social care.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
I find it most rewarding to contribute to innovative solutions that improve social care accessibility, efficiency, and social outcomes. Collaborating with academia, industry, and policymakers to drive evidence-based advancements is inspiring, as it fosters positive societal impact, enhances well-being, and supports the development of future leaders in health and social care.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect is navigating the complexities of integrating innovation into healthcare systems while ensuring compliance, ethical considerations, and data security. Balancing stakeholder interests, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements can be complex, requiring strategic collaboration, adaptability, and evidence-based decision-making to drive sustainable and impactful change in health and social care.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
I hope my work drives innovation and sustainability in health and social care by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and evidence-based decision-making. Through research, policy contributions, and collaboration, I aim to foster digital transformation, improve patient outcomes, and empower future leaders to create a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system.
Senior Lecturer in Public Health
I have over 15 years of experience of working in the field of public health in South Asia, Africa and the Europe. At York St John University London Campus, I am currently working as Deputy Associate Dean for Business, Management and Health programmes and Semester Lead for MSc Public Health programme.
What do you do in the field of health and social care?
I have undertaken research on critical aspects of Human Resources for Health (HRH) by developing appropriate techniques and models for the estimation and forecasting of HRH in South Africa and India. The focus of my research is on the provision of universal health coverage through the reduction of geo-spatial inequities in resource deficit settings for general and specialized services of health care workers. I am currently working on developing research groups on Microplastics and their impact on health, use of VR technology on health professional education and healthy ageing.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring?
The most rewarding aspect of this work is contributing to solutions that bridge critical gaps in healthcare accessibility and equity.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of your work?
The most challenging aspect is navigating the complexities of developing accurate models that consider diverse, ever-changing factors like population growth and resource distribution.
What impact does your work have, or potentially have?
It's inspiring to see the potential impact on global health policy and education, especially through innovative approaches like VR technology, promoting healthier ageing, and addressing emerging challenges such as microplastics.
Become an affiliate
If you would like to become an IHCI affiliate and support interdisciplinary health and social care research, please fill out the application form:
.jpg)
