Primary Care & Health Sciences

After over 20 years in retail banking a late career change brought me to Keele in 1998 where I was fortunate to participate in the comprehensive and cross-disciplinary Foundation Programme available at the time.  This provided an excellent and eclectic grounding for subsequent studies which culminated in a BA (Dual Hons) in Applied Social Studies & Business Administration, 2002; an M.Res. Social Science 2003; a Certificate in Teaching and Learning in HE (2004) and PhD in Social Policy and Administration (2010).  During that time I have also been able to learn or refine a number of skills in research and teaching as well as learn a new language (Spanish, 2000).  In doing so I have been able to work with colleagues in Sociology, Life Course Studies, Psychology and Primary Care Sciences.

I now hold the combined position of Research Associate in the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre and of Qualitative Front Line Adviser for the local hub of the NIHR West Midlands Research Design Service, both of which are situated at Keele.  My role within the Research Design Service has allowed me to further develop both my methodological expertise and skills in writing funding applications.

Project-based work has given me the opportunity to investigate a wide variety of topics, particularly in the production and publication of peer-reviewed Research Briefings for the Social Care Institute of Excellence. Topics ranged from dual sensory impairment in older people to domestic violence and young carers.

My PhD considers the intersection of disability and 'everyday' life for people aged 45+ by focussing on their experiences of working and growing older with a long-standing disability. I am also particularly interested in providing a 'voice' for under-researched populations and under-articulated perspectives. As a result, I am applying the concepts underpinning my doctoral research to current ARUK Centre research within clinical trials by focusing on the patient experience of living with a long-term musculoskeletal condition in order to inform clinical practice.

In 2009 I was awarded an ESRC Training Bursary to attend a series of Masterclasses on Focus Group Research at University of Dundee and in 2010 attended an intensive course on Mixed Methods Reviewing at University of Warwick.

Current:

• Qualitative Methods for postgraduate medical students (M.Med.Sci.)

• Supervision for Masters level students as required

Previous:

• Research Methods for Social Sciences (Keele)

• Ageing and the Life Course (Keele)

• Sociology (Keele)

• Social Policy and Social Divisions (MMU)

I have presented papers and posters at various conferences both in the UK and abroad including: BSG (Surrey, 2003; Sheffield, 2007; Brunel, 2009); Narrative Memory & Identity (Huddersfield, 2007 - published); BSA Med Soc (Manchester, 2009); Society of Back Pain Research (Odense, Denmark, 2010)

• Member of British Society of Gerontology (BSG)

• Member of British Sociological Association (BSA)

• Member of BSA Sub-groups on Body & Society and on Auto/Biography