Dr Catherine Exley
Senior Lecturer in Medical Sociology

  • Email: catherine.exley@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 3805
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 222 6043
  • Address: Institute of Health & Society
    Newcastle University
    Baddiley-Clark Building
    Richardson Road
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE2 4AX

Introduction

I am an experienced medical sociologist committed to delivering high quality research and teaching and learning.  My research is concerned with understanding people's health and illness experiences throughout the lifecourse and spans a range of clinical areas. I provide a social science perspective and qualitative methodological expertise to clinical research questions, postgraduate research supervision and postgraduate and undergraduate teaching.

 Roles and Responsibilities

I am the Teaching and Learning Coordinator for the Institute of Health and Society and I lead the North East ESRC Doctoral Training Centre's Social Science and Health Pathway. 

With Professor Richard Thomson, I co-lead the Decision Making and Organisation of Care Research Theme in IHS

  • University Senate August 2011 - July 2014
  • FMS Ethics Committee
  • IHS Executive Committee
  • IHS Research Strategy Group
  • IHS Teaching & Learning Committee
  • Centre for Oral Health Research Executive Commitee

 Qualifications

1998 PhD (Sociology) Coventry University "Living with Cancer, Living with Dying"
1993 MA Health Services Studies, University of Leeds
1992 BSc(Hons) Sociology, University of Salford

 Esteem Indicators 

2011 -2015 - External examiner MSc Public Health, Glasgow University

March 2011 - Invited external speaker to SCHARR Seminar Series, Sheffield University

April 2009 - Invited key note speaker, Annual Conference of the British Society Study of Prosthetic Dentistry, York

January 2009 - Invited external speaker to Leeds Dental Institute Seminar Series

2006-2010 - Member of MRC College of Experts

2003-2005 - Co-convenor British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group

Research Interests

My research is concerned with examining critically people's - patients and carers - experiences of and decisions about health and health care, and finding ways to improve and enhance these.  As a medical sociologist I work within multidisciplinary research teams, often providing qualitative methodological expertise. My work focuses on those living with chronic disease, and spans a range of clinical areas such as: palliative care, transplantation research, old age psychiatry, primary care medicine and oral health care.

Currently, I am part of research team, led by Professor Louise Robinson, exploring how Advanced Care Planning can be used in dementia care. I am also collaborating with colleagues in the Institute of Transplantation on a number of research projects and lead the qualitative component of a new study led by  Professor Andrew Fisher.

Postgraduate Supervision

I am committed to supporting postgraduate research. I supervise postgraduate research students from social science, applied health research and clinical backgrounds.

Previous Supervision 

  • 2011 Joanne Lally PhD, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University 
  • 2010 Ben Heaven PhD, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
  • 2009 Ines Polzer MPhil, Dental Sciences, Newcastle University
  • 2008 Justin Durham PhD, Dental Sciences, Newcastle University

Current Doctoral Supervision: 

  • Katie Frew, IHS. Newcastle University
  • Rachel Green, Dental Sciences/IHS, Newcastle University
  • David Hamilton, NIHR Doctoral Fellow, IHS, Newcastle University
  • Richard Holmes, NIHR Doctoral Fellow, Dental Sciences/IHS, Newcastle University
  • Stephanie O’Neill, ESRC Studentship, IHS, Newcastle University
  • Rebecca Say, NIHR Doctoral Fellow, IHS, Newcastle University
  • Holly Stevens, IHS, Newcastle University 
  • Susie Wong, NIHR Doctoral Fellow, IHS. Newcastle University

Current Research and Funding

NIHR Health Technology Assessment DEVELOP UK A study of donor ex-vivo lung perfusion in UK Lung Transplantation Co-investigator and lead of qualitative workpackage PI Prof A Fisher

NIHR Doctoral Fellowship Decision Making in Laryngeal Cancer: the role of  the multidisciplinary team and developing decision support Lead Supervisor with Prof JA Walker, Prof R Thomson Fellow: Mr David Hamilton  

NIHR Doctoral Fellowship Engaging women in shared decision making about breech presentation at term: development, usability testing and a pilot trial of decision support and a decision quality instrument. With Prof R Thomson & Prof S Robson Fellow: Dr Beccy Say 

 NIHR Doctoral Fellowship Designing decision support to facilitate choice of urinary drainage procedure after cystectomy Co-supervisor with Prof R Thomson & Prof R Pickard Fellow: Dr Susie Wong 36 Months  

Projects

Undergraduate Teaching

I have delivered and led social science teaching to undergraduate medical students in three UK Universities for over 10 years. I led the social science component of the MBBS at Newcastle from 2003 - 2009, and I remain a regular contributor to this course. I also contribute to a third year sociology degree course examining current health concerns.

Postgraduate Teaching

I am actively involved in the design, delivery and assessment of Master level teaching and learning. I am the module leader for the Introduction to Qualitative Methods module and contribute to Health and Society and Further Qualitative Methods modules which are part of the MSc in Public Health and Health Services Research and MSc in Social Sciences and Health Research. I supervise MSc dissertations and welcome enquiries from Masters students regarding possible projects.