KESS 2 Students Join CUREMeDE Team

July saw CUREMeDE welcome two new students to the team, Benjamin Land and Emma Barnes.

Professor Alison Bullock, Director or CUREMeDE says:

“The KESS-funded studentships are a most welcome addition to the CUREMeDE activity portfolio. Benjamin’s work on the MPhil and Emma’s doctoral study are well-aligned with CUREMeDE’s research strategy and will further enhance our links with Aneurin Bevan and Cwm Taf UHBs. With co-supervisors from Computer Science and the School of Dentistry, these studentships also consolidate and extend CUREMeDE’s cross-School collaborations”

Find out more about Benjamin and Emma's work below:

Benjamin Land

Hello, my name is Benjamin Land. I am excited to start my MPhil in Evaluating the impact of mobile technology in hospitals in hospitals in patient care management and clinical practise, under the guidance of Prof Alison Bullock with the CureMeDe team and Dr Liam Turner from Computer Science at Cardiff University.

During a six month work placement with the South East Wales Academic Health Science Partnership (SEWAHSP). I developed an interest in healthcare in my second year as an undergraduate. The placement was funded by the Welsh Government and I was assigned to the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre (WWIC). The Welsh Wound Innovation Centre conducts innovative research into the care and treatment of wounds and treats specialist cases.  I carried out research around pressure ulcers to assist with the correct classification and reduce unnecessary treatment though misdiagnosis. I developed the framework for an app and wrote a comprehensive business plan and presented my findings and recommendations in a 20 minute presentation.

I am currently undertaking a literature review of relevant journals to learn more about suitable evaluation frameworks which I can apply to evaluate the impact of technology in hospitals and the benefits technology.

For the MPhil I am involved with the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and National ePatient Flow Programme to understand how the use of mobile technology can improve patient care through easier and faster access to records and how this can assist resource management. I will be observing and conducting a case study at two pilot sites which are trialling the technology, involving questionnaires, interviews and focus groups. It will no doubt be challenging but I am excited to learn more and create further understanding in this important area. Wish me luck!

Emma Barnes

Following seven years as a Research Associate at CUREMeDE working on topics around healthcare provision, workforce, and education-related projects in primary care services (general dental practices, community pharmacies and optometrists), I am excited to embark on this KESS2-funded PhD with the team.   Supervised by Prof Alison Bullock and Prof Ivor Chestnutt at Cardiff University Dental School, my project will focus on aspects of oral health education and patient self-care within contexts of deprivation. Working with my partner organisations Cwm Taf and Aneurin Bevan UHBs, my work will focus on general dental practices within the South Wales valleys regions and the needs/understandings of patients who attend them.

Best of luck to both.  We're excited to follow their work and look forward to updating you on their progress in the future.

Mae’r Ysgoloriaeth Sgiliau Economi Gwybodaeth (KESS 2) yn fenter sgiliau lefel uwch Cymru gyfan a arweinir gan Brifysgol Bangor ar ran y sector AU yng Nghymru. Fe’i cyllidir yn rhannol gan raglen cydgyfeirio Cronfa Gymdeithasol Ewropeaidd (ESF) ar gyfer Gorllewin Cymru a’r Cymoedd.

Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships (KESS 2) is a pan-Wales higher level skills initiative led by Bangor University on behalf of the HE sector in Wales. It is part funded by the Welsh Government’s European Social Fund (ESF) convergence programme for West Wales and the Valleys.