Health Advocacy and Public Engagement
Alongside my academic work, I am actively involved in patient advocacy and public engagement within the field of urological health. Drawing on my own lived experience of complex urinary disease and navigating the healthcare system, I work with researchers, clinicians and charities to help improve research, diagnosis and patient care.
I am a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) contributor with The Urology Foundation and serve as the PPIE Lead for the QUICK diagnostic research project, led by Professor Marcus Drake. My work focuses on ensuring that the patient perspective informs the development of new diagnostic technologies, particularly those aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections while supporting antimicrobial stewardship. I have also contributed to discussions through the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on UTIs and work with researchers across the UK to promote patient-centred approaches to healthcare innovation.
In 2026, I founded Oui (a play on "wee"), an independent awareness initiative dedicated to encouraging open conversations about urinary health. Through articles, patient stories and educational content, Oui aims to challenge the stigma that still surrounds urinary symptoms and to highlight the importance of investment in urological research. While Oui is an independent campaign, all fundraising associated with the project supports The Urology Foundation, helping to fund research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of urological disease.
The initiative can be found at www.ouican.org, where visitors can explore articles on urinary health, learn about current research and discover ways to support the wider urology community.
I believe that research has its greatest impact when it is informed by those with lived experience. Whether through historical scholarship or healthcare advocacy, my work is motivated by the same principle: connecting evidence with people to improve understanding and create meaningful change.
