I have been involved in a number of different fields over the years, and enjoy the intellectual stimulation of drawing on interdisciplinarity in my work. My recent research was during my time as an ESRC CASE PhD student at Lancaster University, bringing resources from feminist technoscience, social learning theory, and anthropology to explore the topic of Patient Safety. I was awarded my PhD in June 2011, having previously studied at Lancaster University for an MA in Research Training in Womens’ Studies, and Salford University for an MSc in Medical Ultrasound. I am also a Chartered Biologist.

My PhD thesis was entitled “ Situated Learning Theory and learning in medical work: A feminist account of practices, participants, and materials in patient safety”; and now comes the further work of getting published!

I’m very much a portfolio worker, convening at Lancaster University Medical School on a Special Study Module on Patient Safety, while developing another module on “Techno-Tribes” that will help medical students think about their training and development from an anthropological perspective – helping them to recognise the ‘rites of passage’ they’ll encounter, as well as ‘tribes’ (some friendly, some not!), ‘tribal boundaries’, and the ‘sacra’ (sacred things) that tribes hold dear. A third module in development is “Quantum Leap” – an introduction to science studies, designed to help medical students think differently about their placements by using ideas from feminist philosopher and quantum physicist Karen Barad – think ‘The Matrix’ meets ‘Holby City’!

I am also working with Maggie Mort and another colleague from Lancaster University, Dawn Goodwin, on a book that contains the work of a fellow student Tracy Dryden: Evidence and expertise in mental health nursing: a manifesto for hybrid practices. This will be a testament to Tracy, who was tragically killed in 2010.

I also work as a director in a women-focussed organisation in Chorley - ‘You’re Amazing’. This is a not-for-profit venture, where I combine my feminism with practical, and socially informed work helping (in particular) women who are disadvantaged, but also working with women in business and organisations to break through glass and (sometimes) concrete ceilings.