Personal Statement
I am an academic clinical psychologist who conducts basic and translational research at the interface between physical and mental healthcare, with a particular focus on oncology and evidence synthesis methodology.

I hold a BSc in Psychology (2005) from Newcastle University, and a PhD in Medical Education (2013), a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (2016) and a Certificate in Professional Studies in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (2018) from the University of Liverpool. I am registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Practitioner (Clinical) Psychologist (PYL33875) and hold an honorary Clinical Psychology post with the Clinical Health Psychology Service, Liverpool University Foundation Hospitals NHS Trust.

I am Research Tutor for Year 3 of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Programme, and teach across the MBChB and Psychology undergraduate degree programmes. I am also Deputy Director of Postgraduate Research for the Institute of Population Health.

I am co-author and co-editor of a systematic review textbook for students to guide them in completion of a systematic review as part of their studies (Cherry MG, Boland A & Dickson R. (2023). Doing a Systematic Review: A Students’ Guide. Sage: London). The 4th edition of this book is underway, and I have recently published associated Sage Campus online systematic review training to further support students.

My research has three broad foci (please see Research tab for more information):

i) Decision-making and clinical communication, including optimising communication within clinical trials
ii) Development and evaluation of trans-diagnostic psychological interventions for patients with chronic physical health conditions
iii) Evidence synthesis within health and social care

I would be keen to hear from PhD students who wish to pursue a PhD within these areas.

Research Overview
I have over 15 years' experience of health services research, and hold particular expertise in evidence synthesis (qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods systematic reviews and meta-analyses), qualitative and quantitative methodology. I conduct basic and translational psychological research which has three broad foci:

i) Decision-making and clinical communication

This theme includes research exploring decision-making, including how and why patients make ethically-challenging decisions and decisions about controversial health technologies. It also encompasses research designed to understand how patients make decisions about treatment options or participation in clinical trials, and therefore how communication can be enhanced to optimise patient experience.

ii) Development and evaluation of trans-diagnostic psychological interventions for patients with chronic physical health conditions

This programme of research investigates the ‘fit’ of a transdiagnostic models of psychopathology to understanding emotional distress experienced by patients with physical health conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy and diabetes.

iii) Evidence synthesis within health and social care

I have published over 30 evidence syntheses within physical and mental healthcare, including Cochrane reviews, Health Technology Assessments, individual patient data meta-analyses, realist syntheses and reviews of both qualitative and quantitative evidence. I now provide methodological and topic-specific expertise and leadership to multiple evidence syntheses, with a particular focus on identifying risk factors for distress and related psychological outcomes within physical health conditions.

I would be keen to hear from PhD students who wish to pursue a PhD within these areas.