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Research and Academic Forum

Research

SOM commissions leading researchers at universities and research institutes to improve understanding of key issues. Recent reports include:

  • A research synthesis around the mental health of doctors, supported by the Louise Tebboth Foundation. Download the report here
  • A report on the mental health of nurses, funded by the RCN. Download the report here.
  • The Value of Occupational Health Research: History, Evolution and Way Forward, supported by the HSE. Download the report here.
  • A synthesis of the value of occupational health in the UK and globally, supported by ISOS. Download the report here.

SOM is currently working with university partners on a review of Diversity Issues and Leadership within Occupational Health.

Through our journal, Occupational Medicine, SOM supports potential authors and trains journal article reviewers. Members can also access funding for international research based visits through the Golden Jubilee award.

Academic Forum

This is a nonaligned and multidisciplinary forum for academic organisations. Established in 2000, its Chair is Professor Ewan Macdonald. The Forum is calling for an independent Academic Centre for Work and Health to promote, protect and improve the health of the UK’s working people or those wanting to get into work - a presentation on this centre is here. The Centre would deliver real, practical and applied outputs to help keep workers healthy, offer a non-Governmental voice that will support to develop more efficient and effective workplace health strategies and help change the way we think and act in terms of health in the workplace.  

The Forum offers Buddy Support to fellow researchers who are moving into Academic Research in this area or wish to progress their Academic Career. Buddy support includes information and signposting and can occur over the phone, via Skype or face to face etc (this is for each party to decide together). No cost support is provided and buddies are offering their time freely. The frequency of support is also for each party to decide together, and  the process is of a voluntary nature and can be stopped at any time by either party. Contact details for buddies are:

  • Dr Gwenllian Wynne-Jones g.wynne-jones@keele.ac.uk University of Keele. Area of research focus - primary care, epidemiology, clinical trials, Musculoskeletal pain, nursing
  • Professor Ewan MacDonald ewan.macdonald@glasgow.ac.uk University of Glasgow. Area of research focus - Occupational Medicine Research generalist
  • Dr Sharon Stevelink sharon.stevelink@kcl.ac.uk (Lecturer in Epidemiology) Area of research focus: epidemiology, high risk occupations, mental health, well-being, quantitative methods, military
  • Dr Joanna Yarker j.yarker@bbk.ac.uk Area of research focus - organisational psychology, stress and mental health, organisational interventions, line managers, process/real-world evaluation

The Forum’s submission to the 2017 Green Paper for Work, Health and Disability is here

If you would like to attend the Forum or would like further details, please contact the SOM.

Colt PhD Fellowships

Each year, the Foundation awards up to four Fellowships, to enable holders to study for a PhD in occupational or environmental health at a UK university. Fellowships are normally for three years, but will consider applications for awards over shorter periods from applicants who have already started a PhD, but do not have full funding from other sources to cover completion of their degree. See PhD Fellowships - The Colt Foundation.

Contact SOM if you wish to receive copies of Academic Forum meeting minutes.