Get Involved

I joined the public involvement community in May 2017. I have always had an interest in this area, and have sought opportunities to become more involved. I have a background in mathematics/ statistics and have worked as a project manager for a social research company. A large part of my career has been spent in local government, working at a senior management level for over nine years. Involvement in a range of involvement activities affords me the opportunity to make my contribution to health and care research, and I have undergone training to ensure my effective involvement.

I have amassed a great deal of skills, knowledge and experience throughout my career, and I am really enjoying my involvement roles, as it allows me to apply my skills whilst contributing to an area of interest to me, with the ultimate aim of benefitting wider society. I have two young children, which coupled with a chronic health condition, has prompted me to take some time out from full time working, but provided me with the capacity and opportunity to undertake these roles.

I am keen to put the experience I have gained to good use – having been responsible for managing data, information, planning and performance management, among other things, which I have found relevant and valuable in the wider public involvement roles. I am delighted to be a lay member with the Centre for Population Health, as part of the Early Years Advisory Group and the Public Involvement Steering Committee.

I am very honoured and enthusiastic to be part of the National Centre for Population Health, and Wellbeing Research, Patients and Public Involvement (PPI) advisory team. My professional background is in nursing (Honorary lecturer) with over 20 years of research experience working within a variety of research settings including; healthcare, and educational settings. Research interests include; mindfulness, chronic disease management – diabetes, and rheumatic conditions. Patient and public involvement (PPI) has been an integral part of my research. As a PPI advisor I hope to contribute to the voice and opinions of patients and public, to help inform and shape research conducted by the Centre.

Rachael is a mum of two, a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Swansea University. Rachael was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2012. She has previously worked in mental health services in the NHS and now teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as being involved in research exploring how people respond to illness. She works closely with the third sector, including ‘Thrombosis UK’ and ‘Overcoming MS’; an international charity who educate, support and empower people with MS in evidence-based lifestyle and medication choices to improve health outcomes.

Samanta’s background is in medical anthropology and epidemiology; she is currently undertaking a PhD at Swansea University, working in paediatric respiratory physiology. During her undergraduate degree, she took part in two international placements as a communications assistant and has since worked with several NGOs volunteering as a research coordinator. Samanta’s most recent role was with Doctors of the World, where she co-produced grant applications and reports, undertaking and analysing qualitative data as well as developing a steering group made up of individuals with lived experience of the UK asylum system.

“Having been on the other end of PPI groups in the past, I wanted to see if there would be a way in which I could help by contributing my experiences. I firmly believe that all research should involve the people for whom you’re doing the research! As a guest speaker at one of my former universities once stated, ‘nothing about us, without us!’ until this day, I stand by these words. PPI groups are a great way to get involved with your local research group.”