Please contact me if you are interested in undertaking doctoral research

I am Lecturer in Medical Sociology at Lancaster Medical School.

Research

My research expertise is interdisciplinary qualitative health research concerning the relationship between social inequalities and mental health, neurodiversity and disability, and intersectionality. A central interest within this area is the theoretical and political significance of socio-cultural representations of the lived experience of health and wellbeing, and their role in challenging oppression and instigating social change. Since my appointment, I have begun to build a programme of research that draws on my expertise to make significant impact in medical education at all levels, and as a result the quality of healthcare provision delivered by tomorrow’s doctors. This is evident in my teaching and leadership roles, including actively participating in and setting the agenda for the newly formed Medical Schools Council’s EDI Alliance, leading Widening Participation and EDI initiatives in LMS, and contributing to LU’s Race Equality Charter submission.

I am an elected member of the Medical Schools Council's Equality Diversity and Inclusion Alliance, and was one of the lead authors of their national guidance on how to embed EDI in medical education: Active Inclusion: Challenging exclusions in medical education

Doctoral supervision

Starting in 2025

• Eleanor Vowles (Lancaster Medical School, full-time) Structural and financial barriers to success in medical education. Lead supervisor (40%) with Dr Michael Lambert (40%) and Dr Liz Brewster (20%). Fully funded by FHM PhD Studentship.

• Ros Brunwin (Sociology, part-time) with Debra Ferreday (50%): From Madness to Meaning: Unpicking the reality behind psychosis.

Past doctoral candidates

• Steven Maxwell (Creative Writing) with Zoe Lambert:  project is titled: Human Subjects: A novel of novellas. Passed forthwith in 2024. Funded by an AHRC studentship.

Teaching

MBChB

• Lectures: Disability, Race, Ethnicity & Culture, Migration & Health, Chronic Illness, Health Inequalities, Stigma and Discrimination

• Problem Based Learning (1st and 2nd Years)

• Special Study Modules (1st and 2nd Years): race/ethnicity and health inequalities

• Health, Culture and Society coursework (3rd/4th Years): the relationship between racism and health

MSc Clinical Research

• Supervision of dissertation projects.

In addition, I have extensive teaching experience in the areas of Social Theory, Media Theory, Cultural Theory, Gender & Women's Studies, Science & Technology Studies, Biomedicine & Ethics and Qualitative Research. 

PhD Sociology (July 2014); MA Sociological Research Methods (Distinction); BA Sociology (1st class with honours), Supported Learning Award.

My PhD and MA were funded by an ESRC 1+3 scholarship.

PGCert in Academic Practice (2024).

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2020).