BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

With a background in anthropology, I often work in interdisciplinary teams. Most recently as PI on an AHRC Curiosity Award, Creative Encounters in the Wills tobacco archives. This project brought together historians, curators, public health leads, creative practitioners, Indigenous scholars (Navajo Nation) alongside local community knowledge holders in Hartcliffe, Bristol. My interest in lung health spans 15 years of research, including exploring links between respiratory illness and mental health, and during 2015-2020 I worked on the inter-disciplinary Life of Breath project www.lifeofbreath.org. I am Research Lead for  the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG). In 2022 my research interests in life limiting illness led me to join the Palliative and End-of-Life Care research group, working on the Coastal Community and Creative Health project that explores the role of community assets in supporting the mental health consequences of structurally determined health inequities.

Alongside these main research interests I have  continued collaborating on research on the primary care response to domestic violence and abuse (DVA), most recently, an adapted trauma informed MBCT intervention for survivors of DVA (BRC funded CoMFORT study-ongoing)

METHODOLOGICAL EXPERTISE

I have three methodological interests and areas of expertise:

* The use of creative practice to gather data, build equitable collaborative partnerships and the ways in which creative practice can act as an intercultural tool or bridge between public and cultural health.

*Qualitative Evidenece Synthesis (QES) using meta-ethnography to synthesise qualitative research findings

*The use of cognitive interviewing techniques to critique quantitative assumptions of measurement. 

IMPACT AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

I have collaborated with different creative practitioners in arts health research projects. I worked with creative practitioner Elspeth Penny (2BUProductions) in a series of public engagement workshops, using therapeutic creative writing with those experiencing breathlessness. This  culminated in qualitative data being incorporated into pieces of choral composition by Toby Young, 'Under The Surface' and an art installation by Louise Jenkins called 'Suspended Breath'.

MINDFULNESS BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT)

I am a qualified MBCT teacher, having trained at the Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice in the psychology department at Bangor University (2009-2013). Since 2011 I have taught the 8 week course in mindfulness based cognitive therapy to university staff and undergraduate medical students-the latter are referred from student health services, the counselling service or the student advisory service.

I contribute to the field of mental health and wellbeing within the University. I am regularly approached to run workshops in mindfulness based approaches, both locally (inside the department and wider University) as well as at other institutions (e.g. Severn Deanery/ Bristol CCG). My expertise in mindfulness research is also sought from other institutions (e.g. Exeter, Oxford, Southampton) for PhD supervision and as external examiner. 

TEACHING

I am co-lead with Professor Katrina Turner on a 2nd year medical undergraduate session, using crutical appraisal to explore the patient voice in understanding breathlessness.

I lead two study days on a post graduate course in the Dental School on non pharmacological approaches to managing dental anxiety, including MBCT approaches.

I run skills workshops at the European Respiratory Society Conference (ERS) in Barcelona and Milan on the use of MBCT in pulmonary rehabilitation.

I am director on a 3 day face to face course on qualitative evidence synthesis using meta-ethnography.