Julie is a Senior Research Fellow with an interest in health service design and public health. She has a PhD in Operational Research from the University of Strathclyde and a BSc (first class) in Computing Science with Mathematics from the University of Stirling.
For the last 20 years, Julie has conducted research in health service provision and public health. She combines her expertise in operational research, social research and digital to identify optimal solutions to complex, messy problems. Much of Julie’s research applies a whole systems approach to a problem in order to explore a wider context, develop a shared understanding of a challenge, and better understand the interplay between different components. In addition, her research seeks to involve relevant stakeholders in designing, developing and evaluating services, facilitating empowerment, equity and social connectedness.
Using implementation frameworks and a realist evaluation approach, Julie has evaluated a number of interventions including digital primary care services across Scotland, musculoskeletal pathways and their use and suitability in the Scottish context, and the effectiveness of the Distress Brief Intervention Service during a time of pandemic.
Julie is also an experienced systematic reviewer. She has been involved in a number of reviews exploring evidence around barriers and facilitators to intervention success, acceptability and sustainability. Topics include interventions for community health, hospital wards, constipation in children, and a Cochrane review of interventions to support the resilience and mental health of health professionals through pandemic.
Julie has published in high-quality peer-reviewed academic journals and is also a reviewer for several academic journals.
Julie has PhD responsibility for: Ebere Ugwuodo, ‘The key challenges experienced by vulnerable people with long-term neurological conditions (LTNC) and their families during the COVID pandemic: the lessons learned?’ (second supervisor)