Gemma Heath

I joined Aston University in 2014, having completed the Qualification in Health Psychology (Stage 2) and a PhD at the University of Birmingham as part of the Child Health theme of the NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) programme for Birmingham and Black Country.

My current position as a Research Fellow and Health Psychologist is jointly funded by Aston University and Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The role involves carrying out applied health psychology research and practice with children, young people and their families.

The health and care of children, young people and their families

• Making sense of health and illness

• Adherence to treatment

• Transition to adulthood  

• Health care quality and service improvement

Behaviour Change Interventions

• Development, implementation and evaluation of psychological interventions to change health and illness related cognitions and behaviours

Qualitative methodologies

• Descriptive phenomenology

• Lifeworld research

• Framework Analysis

• Qualitative evidence synthesis 

2013: Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology (Distinction), British Psychological Society

2013: PhD Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham

2009: Graduate Certificate Mental Health Studies, Birmingham City University

2008: MSc Health Psychology (Distinction), Aston University

2007: Graduate Diploma Psychology, University of Wolverhampton

2005: BA (Hons) Education with Social Philosophy and Applied Ethics, Cardiff University

2014 - present: Research Fellow and Health Psychologist Life & Health Sciences, Aston University & Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust               

2009 - 2014: Trainee Health Psychologist & NIHR CLAHRC Researcher Research & Development, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2008 - 2009: Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service, South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust

2008 - 2008: Assistant Psychologist The Cancer Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Registered Health Psychologist, Health and Care Professions Council

Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society

Full Member of the Division of Health Psychology, British Psychological Society

Member of the Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section, British Psychological Society