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
缅北禁地
Ridley Building 1
5th Floor
缅北禁地 upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Introduction
I am a member of the Population Health Sciences Institute and work in the Public Health & Health Inequalities research theme.
I am the PHSI Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead and member of the Executive Committee.
I am the current Honorary Secretary of the .
Qualifications
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice, 2013, Northumbria University
PhD Public Health, 2011, Northumbria University
MPH Public Health, 2007, Northumbria University
BA (Hons) Human Sciences, 2003, University of Oxford
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
Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH) by Distinction
Fellowship of Advance HE (formerly the HEA)
UK and Northern Ireland Society for Social Medicine & Population Health (SSMPH)
European Public Health Association (EUPHA)
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)
Honours and Awards
NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Doctoral Research Fellowship Award Holder, 2008-2011
Awarded the Faculty of Public Health President Medal for Outstanding Service to Public Health, 2021
Bluesky: @shelinavh.bsky.social
ORCID profile:
Research Interests
My interests include:
- Understanding the lived experiences of marginalised, vulnerable and under-represented populations
- Asset- and place-based approaches to improving health and reducing inequalities
- Lay involvement in public health
- Evaluations of complex, policy or system level interventions
- Qualitative, participatory and creative research approaches
- Co-production and knowledge mobilisation
I co-lead the Health Inequalities Research Cluster within Fuse (the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health):
Postgraduate Supervision
I welcome enquiries from prospective students interested in any of the areas mentioned above.
Current students:
- The health and social impact of outside medical referrals of Palestinian patients to Egypt and Jordan (Anas Ismail)
- Exploring lived experiences of shared decision making in antipsychotic treatment: a qualitative longitudinal study (Suzanne Akel)
- What are the experiences of families who are supported by a Baby Bank? (Katie Burgess)
- The financial impact of childhood illness on families in disadvantaged communities (Abi Collins)
- The impact of precarious employment on young adults’ health and wellbeing in the UK (Cara Leavey)
- 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:
- 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)
- 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, Heslehurst N, Rankin J, Graham R, Evans E, Rubin M (2025-2027). WIISE: Women's International and Intersectional Weight Stigma Exploration. Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); UK arm of a multi-country study funded through the Open Research Area (ORA8) call.
Visram S, Wigham S (2025-2026). Evaluation of Health Inequalities Interventions. South Tyneside Council.
Visram S, Burgess K, Capewell S, Brunskill G (2024-25). Building the evidence base on baby banks. The Catherine Cookson Foundation.
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, 缅北禁地.
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.
Clinical Research MClinRes, PGDip, PGCert (e-learning)
- Degree programme director
- Module lead: Qualitative Research (MCR8033)
- Dissertation supervisor
- Personal tutor
Public Health MPH, PGDip, PGCert
- Module lead: Principles of Public Health (MPH8001)
- Dissertation supervisor
Food & Human Nutrition/Nutrition with Food Marketing BSc
- Dissertation supervisor
Psychology BSc
- Dissertation supervisor
Master of Research (MRes) programmes
- 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
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Articles
- Offu OF, Okeowo D, Visram S, Rathbone AP, Lindsey L. . BMJ Open 2025, 15(5), e099801.
- Salvatelli R, Visram S, Collins A, Nwaru C. . Journal of Integrated Care 2025, 33(4), 382–408.
- Visram S, Lie M, Haywood C, Forrest S, Burrell SR, Antonopoulos G, Berger N, Andrew R, Price TJ, Lee J, Carter N, Williams M. . Journal of Public Health 2026, 48(1), 99–108.
- Offu OF, Visram S, Rathbone AP, Lindsey L. . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2024, 32(2), 133-145.
- Ajibo C, Van Griethuysen A, Visram S, Lake AA. . Public Health 2024, 227, 274-281.
- Price T, McGowan V, Visram S, Wildman J, Bambra C. . Health and Place 2024, 90, 103346.
- Bell Z, Scott S, Visram S, Rankin J, Bambra C, Heslehurst N. . PLoS ONE 2023, 18(9), e0292178.
- Perkins S, Visram S, Lindsey L. . Journal of Public Health 2023, 45(3), e486-e493.
- Scott S, McGowan VJ, Bradley A, Visram S. . SSM - Qualitative Research in Health 2023, 3, 100239.
- Palmer E, Kavanagh E, Visram S, Bourke AM, Forrest I, Exley C. . Palliative Medicine 2022, 36(8), 1171 - 1185.
- Heslehurst N, Evans EH, Incollingo Rodriguez AC, Nagpal TS, Visram S. . Obesity Reviews 2022, 23(12), e13511.
- Almulhem M, Harnett N, Graham S, Haq I, Visram S, Ward C, Brodlie M. . BMJ Open Respiratory Research 2022, 9, e001420.
- Bell Z, Scott S, Visram S, Rankin J, Bambra C, Heslehurst N. . Social Science and Medicine 2022, 311, 115313.
- Price T, McColl E, Visram S. . Journal of Public Health 2022, 30, 2619-2626.
- Palmer E, Kavanagh E, Visram S, Bourke AM, Forrest I, Exley C. . Palliative Medicine 2021, 36(2), 237-253.
- Visram S, Hunter DJ, Perkins N, Adams L, Finn R, Gosling J, Forrest A. . Local Government Studies 2021, 47(6), 931-950.
- Scott S, McGowan VJ, Visram S. . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3837.
- Perkins N, Hunter DJ, Visram S, Finn R, Gosling J, Adams L, Forrest A. . Journal of Health Services Research & Policy 2020, 25(1), 41-48.
- Visram S, Walton N, Akhter N, Lewis S, Lister G. . Social Science and Medicine 2020, 245, 112661.
- Mason AR, Liu D, Marks L, Davis H, Hunter D, Jehu LM, Visram S, Smithson J. . Health Policy 2018, 122(9), 1035-1042.
- Visram S, Smith S, Connor N, Greig G, Scorer C. . Journal of Public Mental Health 2018, 17(3), 122-134.
- Liu D, Mason A, Marks L, Davis H, Hunter DJ, Jehu LM, Smithson J, Visram S. . European Journal of Public Health 2018, 29(4), 785-790.
- Jehu LM, Visram S, Marks L, Hunter DJ, Davis H, Mason A, Liu D, Smithson J. . Journal of Public Health 2018, 40(3), e203-e210.
- Visram S, Hunter DJ, Kuchenmuller T. . Public Health 2018, 163, 54-60.
- Visram S. . Primary Health Care Research and Development 2017, 18(4), 333-343.
- Smith SA, Visram S, O'Malley C, Summerbell C, Araujo-Soares V, Hillier-Brown F, Lake AA. . BMC Public Health 2017, 17, 808.
- Visram S, Crossley SJ, Cheetham M, Lake A. . PLoS ONE 2017, 12(11), e0188668.
- Cheetham M, Visram S, Rushmer R, Greig G, Gibson E, Khazaeli B, Wiseman A. . Public Health 2017, 152, 99-107.
- McMahon NE, Visram S, Connell LA. . BMC Public Health 2016, 16(1), 378.
- Visram S, Cheetham M, Riby DM, Crossley SJ, Lake AA. . BMJ Open 2016, 6(10), e010380.
- Visram S, Carr SM, Geddes L. . Journal of Public Health 2015, 37(2), 226-233.
- Visram S, Clarke C, White M. . PLoS One 2014, 9(5), e94749.
- Visram S, Goodall D, Steven A. . Public Health 2014, 128(6), 497-503.
- Visram S, Hall T, Geddes L. Getting the balance right qualitative evaluation of a holistic weight management intervention to address childhood obesity. Journal of Public Health 2013, 35(2), 246-254.
- Pennington M, Visram S, Donaldson C, White M, Lhussier M, Deane K, Forster N, Carr SM. Cost-effectiveness of health-related lifestyle advice delivered by peer or lay advisors: synthesis of evidence from a systematic review. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2013, 11, 30.
- Scurr C, Visram S. . Perspectives in Public Health 2013, 133(4), 196-196.
- Carr SM, Lhussier M, Forster N, Geddes L, Deane K, Pennington M, Visram S, White M, Michie S, Donaldson C, Hildreth A. . Health Technology Assessment 2011, 15(9), 1.
- Visram S, Crosland A, Cording H. Triggers for weight gain and loss among participants in a primary care-based intervention. British Journal of Community Nursing 2009, 14(11), 495-501.
- Visram S, Bremner AS, Harrington BE, Hawthorne G. Factors affecting uptake of an education and physical activity programme for newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. European Diabetes Nursing 2008, 5(1), 17-22.
- Visram S, Crosland A, Unsworth J, Long S. Engaging women from South Asian communities in cardiac rehabilitation. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2008, 15(7), 298-305.
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Book Chapters
- Visram S, Crosland A. Exploring the views and experiences of participants in structured weight loss programmes. In: Laidyth,IR, ed. Nutritional Education. 2010, pp.1-29.
- Visram S. “It’s not a textbook thing, is it?” The use of lay knowledge in promoting health and increasing equity in more economically developed countries. In: Young Researchers for Health 2010. Health systems research: towards universal health coverage. Global Forum for Health Research & The Lancet Global Forum Publications, 2010, pp.134-138.
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Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)
- Lattouf Y, Visram S, Albani V. Impact of the UK cost of living crisis on health, wellbeing and use of health services: an exploratory qualitative study. In: Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. 2024, Glasgow, UK: Society for Social Medicine and Population Health (SSM) 68th Annual Scientific Meeting. In Preparation.
- Armouch S, Visram S, Vlachokyriakos V. . In: The 11th International Conference on Communities and Technologies (C&T) (C&T ’23). 2023, Lahti, Finland: ACM, New York, NY, USA.
- Wigman I, Visram S, Bell Z, Heslehurst N. . In: Public Health Science 2021. 2022, Online: The Lancet Publishing Group.
- Offu OF, Lindsey L, Rathbone A, Visram S. . In: The Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference. 2022, London: Oxford University Press.
- Heslehurst N, Evans EH, Rodriguez ACI, Nagpal TS, Visram S. . In: A National Conference Dedicated to New Research in UK Public Health. 2022, Glasgow: Elseiver.
- Visram S, Lie M, Cheetham M, Hodgson P, Christie A, Jasperse J, Logan M. . In: European Journal of Public Health. 2022, Berlin: Oxford University Press.
- Bell Z, Scott S, Visram S, Rankin J, Bambra C, Heslehurst N. . In: Public Health Science 2021. 2022, Online: The Lancet Publishing Group.
- Bell Z, Scott S, Visram S, Rankin J, Bambra C, Heslehurst N. . In: Public Health Science 2021. 2022, Online: The Lancet Publishing Group.
- Palmer E, Bourke A, Visram S, Forrest I, Exley C. . In: The Marie Curie Research Conference Improving End of Life for All. 2022, Virtual: BMJ.
- Lie M, Visram S. . In: 15th European Public Health Conference 2022. 2022, Berlin: Oxford University Press.
- Visram S, Thirlway F, Akhter N, Walton N, Lewis S. . In: 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine (SSM). 2017, Manchester, UK: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Walton N, Akhter N, Thirlway F, Lewis S. . In: 10th European Public Health Conference. 2017, Stockholm, Sweden: Oxford Academic.
- Visram S, Thirlway F, Cairns J, Akhter N, Lewis S. . In: 9th European Public Health Conference. 2016, Vienna, Austria: Oxford University Press.
- Visram S. . In: 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine (SSM). 2016, York, UK: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Hunter DJ, Kuchenmüller T, Nguyen T. . In: 9th European Public Health Conference. 2016, Vienna, Austria: Oxford University Press.
- Visram S, Crossley SJ, Cheetham M, Lake AA, Riby DM. . In: 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine (SSM). 2015, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Cheetham M, Riby DM, Lake AA, Crossley SJ. . In: 59th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine (SSM). 2015, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Cheetham M, Riby D, Lake AA, Crossley SJ. . In: 8th European Public Health Conference. 2015, Milan, Italy: Oxford University Press.
- Visram S, Crossley SJ, Cheetham M, Lake AA, Riby D. . In: 8th European Public Health Conference. 2015, Milan, Italy: Oxford University Press.
- Visram S. Formative evaluation of a community-based NHS health check service. In: 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine (SSM). 2013, Brighton, UK: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Clarke C, White M. . In: 17th Qualitative Health Research Conference "Research for change: Impacting society through qualitative research". 2011, Vancouver, Canada: University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology.
- Visram S, Clarke C, White M. . In: 55th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine. 2011, Warwick: BMJ Group.
- Visram S, Clarke C, White M. . In: 17th Qualitative Health Research Conference "Research for Change: Impacting Society through Qualitative Research". 2011, Vancouver, Canada: University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology.
- Visram S, Clarke C, White M. . In: 54th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine. 2010, Belfast: BMJ Group.
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Editorials
- Hunter DJ, Visram S. . BMJ 2016, 355, i6399.
- Visram S, South J. . Perspectives in Public Health 2013, 133(4), 193-194.
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Letter
- Lloyd S, Visram S, Johnson C, Errington R, Scorer C, Michie S. . Journal of Public Health 2015, 37(4), 748-748.
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Online Publication
- Visram S, Crossley S. . London: Local Government Association, 2020. Available at: .
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Reviews
- Bell Z, Scott S, Visram S, Rankin J, Bambra C, Heslehurst N. . BMJ Open 2021, 11(8), e048180.
- Visram S. Class, inequality and wellbeing. Sociology 2013, 47(4), 858-864.
- Visram S. Interpreting Interviews. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 2012, 15(6).
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Working Paper
- Visram S, Hashem K. . Food Research Collaboration 2016, 1-13.