Author: Emily Medcalf

Breaking barriers — My path to becoming the Julia Anderson Change Lab Behavioural Science Trainee

In our blog series, we present the captivating stories of the fourth cohort of Julia Anderson trainees. As an impactful initiative at the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), the Julia Anderson Training Programme (JATP) provides people with little or no prior work experience with paid work experience. Last week, Beatrice shared her unique journey as the Helix Centre Trainee. Today, we have the pleasure of introducing you to the last trainee, CJ, the Change Lab Behavioural Science Trainee, determined to pursue her dream of becoming a clinical psychologist.

Discovering my true colours

My name is Calea-Jay, but you can call me ‘CJ’—that’s what my friends and family call me. Growing up in the lively neighbourhood of Peckham in southeast London has shaped me in so many ways. I’m an INTJ-T personality type, which means I tend to approach things with an analytical and strategic mindset.

When I was younger

Life hasn’t always been a smooth ride for me. I’m open about my experiences with EUPD (Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder), also known as BPD, which has presented its share of challenges. This means I feel intense emotional fluctuations, moments of fear, and insecurity. But it’s also taught me resilience and the importance of personal growth. Another thing that makes me who I am is my dyslexia, which has shaped my journey and helped me understand the world from a unique perspective. Plus, I’m proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, which has been an essential aspect of my identity.

In my downtime, I’m all about manga, anime, and music. I’ve got a soft spot for K-Pop, Dancehall, and RnB. I love experimenting with different cuisines in the kitchen ­- Caribbean and Japanese foods are my absolute favourites!

My trip to Jamaica, where my family is from

Paving my path one step at a time

My experiences at the University of Brighton have been instrumental in shaping who I am today. Currently going into my third year, I am pursuing a BA Hons in Psychology and Criminology. This multidisciplinary programme has allowed me to explore the complexities of human behaviour and delve into the intriguing world of criminology.

In addition to my studies, I find immense fulfilment in giving back to the community through volunteering. I am actively involved with Pathway to Health, a charity clinic in Brighton. At this clinic, we provide alternative therapy through ear acupuncture and mental health support for individuals dealing with drug and alcohol misuse. These interactions have been deeply rewarding and enriching for both me and those I support.

As I combine my academic pursuits with my volunteer work and university engagements, I was excited to embark on the Julia Anderson Training Programme at IGHI. The programme’s focus on health and innovation resonates deeply with my aspirations, and this experience is really shaping my journey moving forward.

Embracing opportunities: my application journey towards the JATP

When I discovered the Julia Anderson Training Programme (JATP) at IGHI, it seemed tailor-made to my interests, aspirations and passion to make a difference in the field of clinical psychology and behavioural science. While I had a strong understanding of Imperial College’s reputation, getting to know the IGHI’s work made me even more enticed to join their team and I was motivated by the opportunity to be part of meaningful projects that could truly impact global health.

Finding a first job in the fields of clinical psychology and behavioural science, where experience is often required, can be difficult. However, the JATP offers a chance for individuals with little to no experience to work alongside seasoned professionals on projects aimed at improving global health. Access to training and mentoring, along with networking opportunities, gives trainees like me the chance to expand our skills, learn from different perspectives, and nurture our passion for research and behavioural science.

As someone with no prior experience in professional roles, the application and interview experience were both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. But, the recruitment process of the JATP is very impressive, particularly the decision to anonymise applicants and their educational institutions. This approach ensured an unbiased evaluation, providing everyone with a fair chance at the roles.

Making a difference through behavioural science

As a Change Lab Behavioural Science Trainee, my primary focus is to support my team in implementing behavioural intervention projects aimed at improving global health. My responsibilities span a wide range of tasks, including conducting literature reviews, analysing data, conducting interviews, and preparing co-design workshops. Additionally, I collaborate with various companies and the NHS to foster partnerships that enhance the impact of our initiatives.

 

“My work experience so far with the Change Lab at IGHI has been immensely fulfilling. I enjoy every aspect, from collaborating with like-minded individuals to engaging in behavioural intervention projects. The supportive and encouraging environment within the team has been invaluable, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally.” — CJ

 

One of the current projects I’m engaged in is “Digital Consent for Surgery” in partnership with Concentric and Behavioural Intervention. Currently, the adoption of digital consent forms is low, despite their known benefits. Our aim at the Change Lab is to better understand the barriers to adopt and design interventions that improve usage. One such intervention involves implementing an electronic ‘pop-up’ reminder for surgeons during patient consultations, or a league table system that allows them to compare their performance with colleagues, utilising the gamification approach.

My work experience so far with the Change Lab at IGHI has been immensely fulfilling. I enjoy every aspect, from collaborating with like-minded individuals to engaging in behavioural intervention projects. The supportive and encouraging environment within the team has been invaluable, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally.

In the future, I am planning to compete a Master’s in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health  and I plan on becoming a clinical psychologist — which I’m sure will be a fulfilling journey filled with self-discovery.

This blog series has been written by Rao Fu, Julia Anderson Programme Operations Trainee. Join us as we delve into the extraordinary stories of our fourth cohort trainees of the Julia Anderson Programme at IGHI! The last two trainees’ stories can be accessed at:

Find out more about the Julia Anderson Training Programme.

Designing inclusive healthcare – my experience as the Julia Anderson Helix Trainee

In our blog series, we present the captivating stories of the fourth cohort of Julia Anderson trainees. As an impactful initiative at the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), the Julia Anderson Training Programme (JATP) provides people with little or no prior work experience with paid work experience. Last week Rao shared her story as the Programme Operations Trainee. Today, we will introduce you to Beatrice, the Julia Anderson Helix Centre Trainee, whose passion for making healthcare more accessible and inclusive has led her on an incredible journey.

Getting to know me

My name is Beatrice, a trilingual girl from Hong Kong who can speak English, Cantonese and Mandarin fluently. Despite growing up surrounded by skyscrapers, I have always felt a deep connection with nature and developed a strong love for outdoor activities such as hiking, snorkelling, kayaking, and cycling. Traveling is my passion, and I’m always on the lookout for budget holidays that allow me to immerse myself in local culture and cuisine.

children running outdoors
A cherished outdoor moment from my childhood

In my spare time, I am the secretary of the University of Bath Mahjong club, where I indulge in the fascinating world of this tile-based strategy game popular in many Asian countries. Playing Mahjong with my friends brings immense joy, and there’s nothing better than winning a round and earning a well-deserved dinner treat!  

 

Me in Venice, Italy

Pursuing my Passion

My journey has led me to the University of Bath, where I am currently pursuing a BSc in Psychology as a third-year student. Bath’s enriching academic environment has shaped my understanding of human behaviour and nurtured my passion for making a positive impact in the field of mental health.

Beyond the classroom, I actively engage in extracurricular activities that have broadened my horizons and allowed me to give back to the community. One of the most rewarding experiences has been volunteering at Shout, an online text-based crisis hotline. Though I’ve only completed a few shifts, the opportunity to provide support and be there for individuals in their darkest moments has been deeply fulfilling. It has reinforced my commitment to advocating for mental health and the importance of accessible support systems.

As I continue my academic journey, I strive to integrate my psychological knowledge with real-world experiences. By participating in university societies and volunteering, I enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds. I am now further developing my skills through the Julia Anderson Training Programme at IGHI.

My application journey 

Discovering the Julia Anderson Training Programme (JATP) was a serendipitous moment as I stumbled upon it while browsing through my university’s career page. Intrigued by the programme’s description, it didn’t take long for me to realise that this was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass.

What was it that attracted me to apply for the Julia Anderson Helix Centre Trainee role? It was a perfect alignment of my values and interests. The project’s focus on addressing health inequities resonated deeply with me and I was excited by the thought of being able to contribute to a meaningful project that aimed to make a positive impact in healthcare. Moreover, the JATP encompassed both my existing research skills and my desire to learn new skills, such as design, and so it felt like the ideal platform for both personal and professional growth.

Despite applying during my final exams, I managed my time effectively and performed well throughout the process. One aspect that I am particularly proud of is my “proudest achievement” presentation during the second-round interview. Unlike traditional interviews, the Julia Anderson Training Programme prefers understanding applicants better by using a strength-based way instead of a standardised CV. In a creative twist, I presented my story of ‘Moving to a New Country’ to the panel in a storybook format, allowing my personality and creativity to shine through. It was a memorable experience that showcased my unique approach to storytelling.

drawing depicting Hong Kong with the text 'Our story begins in Hong Kong... and for our protagnist this was home.
My presentation slides of the proudest achievement: ‘Moving to a New Country’

Embracing captivating projects

As a Julia Anderson Helix Centre Trainee in the Design Strategy team, I’m thrilled to work on two exciting projects: one focuses on outpatient appointments and the other involves improving patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) within research.

In the outpatient project, I get to come up with cool ideas to make it easier for people to go to their hospital appointments. We want to understand why some people miss their appointments and find ways to help them attend. It’s all about making sure everyone can access healthcare when they need it. As part of the project, I listen to researchers and collaborate on creating a resource hub aimed at assisting IGHI researchers in enhancing patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE).

Working on these projects is very rewarding, I learn new things every day and feel so engaged in my work. It’s amazing how my ideas and designs have the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives and healthcare. The team I work with is fantastic! They welcomed me warmly and always encourage me to do my best. I feel valued and inspired to push my creativity and skills even further.

 

“Being a Julia Anderson Helix Centre Trainee at IGHI is a dream come true. I get to be part of making healthcare better for everyone. Every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and make a positive impact on people’s lives.” — Beatrice

 

Besides my main projects, I also get to help out with other cool things in the Design Strategy team and the Helix Centre. From writing about our work to coming up with new ideas, there’s always something exciting to do! Being a Julia Anderson Helix Centre Trainee at IGHI is a dream come true. I get to be part of making healthcare better for everyone. Every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Navigating the path ahead

My future career path is still taking shape, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. This programme serves as a catalyst for gaining valuable insights into potential career paths and the type of work environment where I can thrive.

Currently, I am considering career paths that merge my interests in behavioural science and clinical psychology. These fields offer opportunities to delve deeper into understanding human behaviour, addressing mental health challenges, and making a positive impact on individuals’ lives. Cultural contexts play a crucial role in my aspirations, as I am keen on exploring how research and design can be tailored to diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity and effectiveness.

While my interests primarily lie in these areas, I remain open-minded and curious, considering a wide range of possibilities. The JATP provides me with a unique vantage point to explore various career paths within the realm of global health innovation. It offers exposure to cross-disciplinary collaboration and the chance to work alongside experts from different fields, broadening my horizons and inspiring me to think beyond conventional boundaries.

This blog series has been written by Rao Fu, Julia Anderson Programe Operations Trainee. Join us as we delve into the extraordinary stories of our fourth cohort trainees of the Julia Anderson Programme at IGHI! Stay tuned for more captivating journeys and inspiration from the trainees’ unique perspectives.

The last trainee’ s blog post can be accessed at:

Find out more about the Julia Anderson Training Programme.

Design Dash: Accelerating innovation in NHS screening programmes

On your marks, get set… Our MSc Healthcare and Design students take part in a Design Dash, a rapid design process to solve a real-world healthcare challenge. We spoke to two students, Aoife McGrath and Jasmine Banerjee, about the process.

A design dash is a rapid, collaborative method for conceiving tangible healthcare innovations. Our Helix Centre teaches and assesses the Design Dash module on the MSc Healthcare and Design course that is aimed at healthcare professionals and designers and co-run by Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art. The students work with Helix Centre’s researchers, designers and public engagement experts on a live rapid design project to prototype a solution to an identified challenge.

This year, the Design Dash focused on NHS screening programmes for cancer, which are important for both patients and the NHS, as detecting cancer early gives people a better chance of responding to treatment and therefore recovering from their illness.

The module starts with an action-packed week running through the Design Dash process, offering a chance to explore a new brief in an intense, collaborative and open-minded way. With an initial focus on bowel cancer screenings, the students were taken through the process of framing and dissecting briefs and understanding patients’ experiences. After the group projects, the individual assignment for the module was to create a project to increasing the uptake of breast or cervical screening.

While the end products of the Design Dash are only prototypes, by applying real-world design techniques that Helix Centre uses, the students gain knowledge that will stay with them throughout their careers.

Jasmine Banerjee, Product Designer and student on the Healthcare and Design MSc programme

I’ve come straight onto this master’s from doing an undergraduate in product design. I have a keen interest in medical technology and focused on this for all my undergraduate self-led projects.

The Design Dash week was fantastic, well organised and the content was brilliant. It was set up really well to teach us about important considerations for any design project, particularly for the students from a non-design background, such as by creating ‘how might we’ questions to help guide your research.

For my assignment, I chose breast screening as I had a whole range of expert patients that I could think to talk to. I also spoke to a GP who gave their interpretation of why there was low uptake and which patients they have to chase up to attend screenings. I was aware that people from ethnic minorities were less likely to attend screenings, and I wanted to consider how to approach these women. Based upon insights from my interviews with patients and my secondary research, the main barriers I identified were access to information, knowledge of what to expect and knowledge of their local unit.

“The main barriers I identified were access to information, knowledge of what to expect and knowledge of their local unit”

How might we make it easier for people to learn about the importance of screenings despite time constraints?

People often say they don’t have time to go to their screenings or have time to learn about it. So I thought, when is the time in a person’s life when they are ‘wasting time’ but have no other option? When they’re on public transport! I started looking at statistics about how long people spend on the tube during the commute and thought that using the London Underground was a good way of targeting every demographic.

I developed the ‘Boob Tube’, which is based on the London Underground, but the idea is for each tube line to be sponsored by, or working in partnership with, a breast cancer charity such as CoppaFeel!. Each carriage is filled with child friendly and religiously sensitive infographics, containing information on breast screening, what it is, what to expect, how to prepare for it, and why it’s important.

Mock-up image of inside an underground tube carriage, with signage for breast cancer awareness and 'Boob tube' branding.

How might we prevent patients feeling uncomfortable with the level of nudity?

Boob tube top with 'Boob Tube' logo

Alongside this, a lot of the people I interviewed said they felt discomfort with the level of nudity in front of healthcare professionals. So, I designed a boob tube top, with the ‘Boob Tube’ logo, which you can whip down and back up in-between each scan.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and screenings are an important way to protect yourself, but also in a secondary way, to protect your friends and family who care for you. They are there to provide you with reassurance and give you the best chance.”

Aoife McGrath is a senior microbiologist and student on the Healthcare and Design MSc programme

Aoife McGrath

“I currently work as a Senior Microbiologist, on the development of consumer healthcare products.

The Design Dash was like a R&D sprint, from the early stage of understanding what the problem is, to creating final prototypes, all the while focusing on human-centred design. During the week, we spoke with people who had experience of bowel cancer screening, to first hand understand the concerns and feelings about the process. Getting those patients, users and experts involved from the beginning of the design process is hugely important and a key learning for designing in healthcare – you have to design with people at either end of the bell curve; you can’t just design for an average person.

“Getting patients, users and experts involved from the beginning of the design process is hugely important and a key learning for designing in healthcare”

 

For my own Design Dash research project, I chose to explore cervical screening, as I’m in the screening age bracket, so have first-hand experience and felt it would be easier to reach out to others. I created and shared an anonymous questionnaire, in addition to reaching out to my peers who were comfortable to speak on the subject, which enabled me to gather feedback about people’s experience with cervical screening.

A main theme identified through my research and interviews was a lack of education, people don’t fully understand why cervical screening is required or beneficial. More than one of the women I spoke to said ‘no one ever told us about this in school, we didn’t learn anything about it until I received the appointment letter in the post. Why are we not taught about this?’

There was also an issue of time, with NHS appointments typically being scheduled through the working day, resulting in people taking time off work. The subject of cervical screening or smear testing is rarely discussed, it’s a very personal topic and people don’t really talk about it. Thinking about this, other items such as sanitary products, tampons and contraception are readily available with less discomfort, but targeting the same area. Therefore, with my design, I tried to look at different aspects where I could improve three things – education, time and emotions.

How might we combine cervical screening awareness with sanitary products that are readily available, and something people are more comfortable with?

My design idea was to combine cervical screening swab samples with sanitary products. The idea would help educate people, making them more aware of cervical screening, and also reducing the time it takes to currently attend a screening appointment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were all doing our own swab sampling – to detect the virus. The cervical screening test used to detect the human papilloma virus, which can potentially lead to cancer, so why couldn’t we do cervical screening tests at home?

 

I read about the ‘small c’ campaign – YouScreen, where they have piloted a study of 30,000 women in North London, to assess if they could sample at home. 99% of those women were able to successfully and collect their own cervical sample, which was brilliant. The idea is you use a normal swab and then send it off to a lab like you would for a PCR COVID test. However, I thought, the swab might be a bit awkward, so how can we make this easier? So, my idea is to use the tampon applicator to help people take the sample. A tampon is something that is part of everyday life, therefore more comfortable and perhaps doesn’t seem as foreign as a swab.

My design also raises awareness of cervical cancer, having information about the importance of the screening on the packaging, with links of how to collect a sample with the special tampon applicator. Creating a rapid screening test, like COVID lateral flow tests, would simplify this further and anytime you buy a pack of tampons you can check from the comfort of your own home. A rapid cervical screening test is not yet available, but it is feasible to get there.

How might we use this design help people and healthcare systems?

Potentially this could take a burden off the NHS by reducing the amount of cervical screening tests the NHS needs to do. While also enabling the positive results to be detected sooner.  It’s estimated that there has been a 70% reduction in cervical cancers from screening, but 83% of deaths could be prevented if everyone attended regularly. It’s a hugely important test to save lives, to empower women and people with a cervix to take control of their own health.

“It’s estimated that there has been a 70% reduction in cervical cancers from screening, but 83% of deaths could be prevented if everyone attended regularly.”

 

The Healthcare and Design course works directly with the NHS, and it’s a pivotal time to design efficient, frugal, clever solutions to help healthcare systems. Providing solutions to screenings, which prevents people from needing treatment, would be a huge help for people, but also healthcare systems in the UK and globally.”

Study our MSc in Healthcare and Design

Do you want to join us and use design thinking to solve problems in healthcare? Our MSc in Healthcare and Design is now open for applications, offering a hybrid teaching model so that you can learn flexibly at your own pace. Find out more about this course and how to apply on our website.

Fightin’ Thru – Mental Health is worth fighting for

young people in a boxing gym
Image credit: Jonathan Turton, Instagram @jftfilm

For many young men, opening up about mental health can feel daunting, with many feeling restricted by barriers such as stigma or fear. Those who identify as Black or minority ethnic are also more likely to experience racism, poverty and poorer educational outcomes than those who identify as White. These young people are also less likely to seek help through traditional mental health services.

To tackle this, the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) teamed up with The Mind Map, a Liverpool-based mental health organisation, and Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing Club in Toxteth, Liverpool, to form Fightin’ Thru. Fightin’ Thru is a boxing-themed campaign using innovative, creative and non-traditional mediums to raise awareness and encourage opening up about mental health in minoritised young men. We sat down with Ste Turton, a journalist for The Mind Map, and Badra Toure, a young boxer at Golden Gloves, to discuss the project.

Research conducted by Dr Lindsay Dewa, Advanced Research Fellow in Mental Health at IGHI highlighted that young men, particularly those who identify as Black or minority ethnic, were a vulnerable group when it came to mental health difficulties. Based upon these findings, Lindsay, and Ste, who had worked together previously, wanted to run an awareness project involving the young people who live in these communities, with Ste suggesting boxing as the focus. They received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to run the new project.

30% of 16–24-year-olds experienced ‘poor mental health’ in 2020
 (cCopeY, Imperial College London)

 

The project started in 2020, with posters placed in the Golden Gloves to recruit three young men aged 16-18 as the gym’s main collaborators. After an overwhelmingly positive application response, Badra, along with Mahbub (Mabz) Rahman, Jay Bushell and later addition Rio Clay Pierre, were selected as stand-out candidates to be paid for their work in planning and running sessions. They were joined by Head Coach Wayne Smith and the gym’s highest-ranked professional Marcel Braithwaite on brainstorming sessions. Pre-pandemic visions for the project included a fight night and interviews with high-profile boxers to break down the stigma surrounding mental health. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdowns hit, plans were turned on their head, at a time when the need for mental health support due to the strains of the pandemic were only increasing.

COVID-19 moved the conversations from the boxing gym to Zoom. But despite the project going virtual, the regular calls offered a valuable touch point for those involved, with Badra saying that the group enabled him to connect with the other young men involved in the project at a time where in-person connections were not possible.

Throughout the pandemic, Fightin’ Thru provided free counselling for the young boxing club members, alongside online workshops and coaching sessions covering topics such as sleep, motivation, and resilience. Coaches at the Golden Gloves also attended Mental Health First Aid courses, run by The Mind Map, to learn how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and support the young people in a non-judgmental way.

The project also highlighted influential boxers who openly spoke about their experiences of mental health, demonstrating a broader shift in the perceptions of mental health and sport. In our conversation, Ste told us he had been moved by one of the sport’s bright young fighters Ryan Garcia talking openly about his personal battles. Following the biggest win of his career in 2021, Garcia suffered severe lows, which he discussed publicly in an attempt to improve the conversation between young men around mental health.

“Everything came crashing down on me. I was lost in my head; it was like being in a maze and I didn’t know where to go.”

“I now have people telling me that by opening up, I’d saved their lives. That right there is worth all the pain I went through. If a kid got out of a dark place because of my story, that’s worth more than I could ever do in the ring.”

As well as Instagram live sessions with sport psychologist Phil Steele and European Champion Zelfa Barrett, The Fightin Thru’ team produced a short film last year, featuring many of the young people involved in the project. Ste said:

“The film shows how diverse the Golden Gloves is, the great community work going on, and the great platform it can be to get the message of good mental health across to young men, from all walks of life and all communities.”

Badra hopes that the project has given people who are struggling a place to go. Badra said:

“I’ve never really heard about people discussing [mental health] in my groups. Projects like Fightin’ Thru help break down this stigma because it’s a space where you can talk to others, and where people will listen and give you advice.”

Ste and Badra hope the project has demonstrated how important boxing and community centres are to keep young people occupied, by giving them a place, a platform, and discipline. Lindsay hopes this is the start of using different and creative medias to increase awareness of the importance of good mental health in minoritised groups.

You can follow the project on Instagram @Fightinthru, which celebrates members of their community, teaching the young boxers that good mental health is as important as their physical fitness, and encouraging them to seek help when needed.