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Staff Profile

Dr Shelina Visram

Senior lecturer in public health

  • Telephone: +44 (0)191 208 2279
  • Address: Population Health Sciences Institute
    Faculty of Medical Sciences
    Newcastle University
    Ridley Building 1
    5th Floor
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
Background

I am a member of the Population Health Sciences Institute and work in the Public Health & Health Inequalities research theme.


Qualifications

BA (Hons) Human Sciences, 2003, University of Oxford

MPH Public Health, 2007, Northumbria University

PhD Public Health, 2011, Northumbria University

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, 2013, Northumbria University


Previous Positions

Associate Professor in Public Policy and Health, Durham University, 2016-2017

Lecturer in Public Policy and Health, Durham University, 2013-2016

Lecturer in Public Health Research, Fuse and Northumbria University, 2012-2013

Postgraduate Research Associate, Northumbria University, 2006-2012

Research Assistant, Northumbria University, 2004-2006


Memberships

Fuse: the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health (www.fuse.ac.uk), member organisation of the NIHR School for Public Health Research

NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria (ARC NENC)

UK Society for Social Medicine and Population Health (SSM)

European Public Health Association (EUPHA)


Honours and Awards

NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Doctoral Research Fellowship Award Holder, 2008-2011 

Awarded the Faculty of Public Health President Medal for Outstanding Service to Public Health, 2021


Twitter: @ShelinaVisram

ORCID profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9576-2689

Research

Research Interests

My research interests include:

  • The wider determinants of health and health inequalities
  • Understanding the needs of marginalised populations
  • Asset- and place-based approaches to improving health and wellbeing
  • Lay involvement in public health
  • Evaluations of complex, policy or system level interventions
  • Qualitative, participatory and creative research approaches


Postgraduate Supervision

I welcome enquiries from prospective students interested in any of the areas mentioned above.

Current students: 

  • The financial impact of childhood illness on families in disadvantaged communities (Abi Collins)
  • Precarious work, precarious health: the impact of precarious employment on young adults’ health and wellbeing in the UK (Cara Leavey)
  • Socio-economic deprivation and deaths of despair: a mixed methods investigation in the North East of England (Timothy Price)
  • The role of community pharmacists in the management and prevention of licit opioid misuse in the United Kingdom (Ogochukwu Offu)
  • Prevalence, determinants, and experiences of mental health conditions amongst Covid-19 survivors during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria: a mixed-method study (Pela Okorie)


Past student projects:

  • Critically examining the experience of end of life care for people with interstitial lung disease: views of patients, families and clinicians (Evelyn Palmer)
  • Unfolding and infrastructuring social innovation within youth-led groups in Lebanon (Sara Armouch)
  • Exploring community gardening as a complex public health intervention: an action research study (Natalie Connor)


Funded Projects

Visram S (2024-25). Evaluation of the North Tyneside Gateway Access Plus Service. North Tyneside Council.

Visram S, Castelli M, Hill T, Hetherington R, Kingston A, O’Donnell A, Pearce M (2024). Understanding and enhancing the research project offer within the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). FMS Educational Research, Development & Practice Grants, Newcastle University.

Visram S, Salvatelli R, Nwaru C, Collins A, Bambra C (2024). Multiple and complex needs across the North East Mayoral Combined Authority: a scoping review. Insights North East.

Visram S, Aquino R (2023-24). Evaluation of the LEAP (Little Explorers And Parents & families) Creative Health for Early Years Wellbeing pilot project. Northern Ballet and The Child Health and Wellbeing Network North East & North Cumbria.

Gorman S, Cheetham M, Bhattarai N, van der Graaf P, Visram S, McGowan V, Pollard F, Ward S, Wiseman A, Gibson E, Kiritharan G (2022-23). Assessing the impact and cost effectiveness of a community-centred approach to public health on mental health and wellbeing; a co-produced, mixed methods study. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria.

Visram S, Lie M (2022). Better Mental Health Fund (BMHF) evaluation. South Tyneside Council.

Visram S, Lie M, Cheetham M, Hodgson P (2021-22). Understanding local health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside. NIHR Clinical Research Network North East & North Cumbria and South Tyneside Council.

Defeyter G, Lake A, Visram S, Stretesky P, Clear A, Lloyd S, Matthews C, Jeffels K (2021-22). Following Covid-19 Lockdown: Measuring food insecurity in Redcar and Cleveland to inform future food provision at local authority and ward level. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria.

Visram S, Andrew R, Antonopolous G, Berger N, Burrell S, Cook J, Forrest S, Haywood C, Rashid I, Smith B (2020-21). An evaluability assessment of BoroManCan: working with local communities to improve men’s health and wellbeing in Middlesbrough. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North East & North Cumbria.

Scott S, Visram S, Broadbridge A (2020-2021). Understanding community aid responses to the coronavirus pandemic: a qualitative exploration of how communities in North East England have mobilised to tackle food insecurity. Catherine Cookson Foundation.

Visram S, Sowden S, Ramsay S, Lally J, Lie M (2020-2021). Embedding public health and prevention in secondary care. NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS).

Scott S, Lake AA, Giles E, Leese M, Visram S, Woodall J, Baybutt M, Williamson K (2020-2021). Exploring food environments with people in prison and prison catering staff: mapping priorities for the improvement of food standards and diet quality. NHS England.

Carr S, Visram S, Sattar Z (2019-2020). Utilising a community-assets based approach to develop physical activity interventions in micro communities. NIHR Clinical Research Network NE&NC.

Bambra C, McGowan V... Visram S (2019-2020). Places and Communities: What is known? Stakeholder views and research synthesis. NIHR School for Public Health Research.

Crossley S, Visram S, Irving A (2017). Assessing the impact of Gateshead’s Innovation Fund projects on social isolation. Institute of Local Governance.

Cheetham M, Rushmer R, Visram S (2016-2018). Cross-site evaluation of the North East integrated wellbeing and wellness services. Public Health England.

Visram S, Thirlway F, Lewis S, Russell A, Bambra C (2015-2017). Evaluation of the County Durham Wellbeing for Life Service. Durham County Council.

Hunter DJ, Visram S, Finn R, Gosling J, Adams L, Forrest A (2015-2017). Evaluating the leadership role of Health and Wellbeing Boards as drivers of health improvement and integrated care across England. Department of Health Policy Research Programme.

Marks L, Visram S, Mason A, David H, Hunter DJ, Smithson J (2015-17). Commissioning public health services: the impact of the health reforms on access, health inequalities and innovation in service provision. Department of Health Policy Research Programme.

Hunter DJ, Visram S, Marks L (2015-2016). Reviewing the European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services. World Health Organization Europe.

Hunter DJ, Visram S (2015). Delivering on health and wellbeing in Middlesbrough: Review of current partnership working arrangements. Institute of Local Governance.

Visram S (2014-2016). Evaluating the Shildon Health Express programme. Durham County Council.

Hunter DJ, Visram S (2014-2015). Supporting delivery of the European Action Plan for Strengthening Public Health Capacities and Services. Durham University ‘pathways to impact’ funding.

Visram S, Lake AA, Cheetham M, Riby D (2014-2015). The HYPER! (Hearing Young People’s views on Energy Drinks: Research) study. The Children’s Foundation.

Visram S (2013-2014). Evaluation of the Willington long-term conditions pilot. County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Crosland A, Wallace A, Visram S (2013-2014). Alcohol health trainer pilot evaluation. NHS Durham.

Chinouya M, Visram S (2012-2013). Peer health advisors working with black African communities: a community-based participatory research project. NHS Middlesbrough.

Visram S, Clarke C, White M (2008-2011). Exploring the issues of client engagement and health behaviour change in the NHS Health Trainers initiative: a comparative, qualitative study to inform the intervention development and evaluation. NIHR Research Training Fellowship.

Carr S, Lhussier M, Visram S, Geddes L, Deane K, Pennington M, White M, Michie S, Donaldson C, Hildreth A (2007-2011). An evidence synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research on component intervention techniques, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, equity and acceptability of different versions of health-related lifestyle advisor role in improving health. NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme.

Teaching

Master of Public Health/MSc Public Health and Health Service Research/MSc Health Service Research/MSc Global Public Health

  • Degree programme director
  • Module lead: Public Policy, Health and Health Inequalities (HSC8047)
  • Dissertation supervisor
  • Personal tutor


BSc Biomedical Sciences

  • Dissertation supervisor


BSc Food & Human Nutrition/Nutrition with Food Marketing

  • Dissertation supervisor
  • Personal tutor


MPharm

  • Dissertation supervisor


DClin Psychology

  • Dissertation supervisor


MRes

  • Personal tutor


Other roles and responsibilities

  • Deputy director of education within the Population Health Sciences Institute
  • Deputy lead (education) for the Public Health & Health Inequalities research theme


Publications