Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead

Professor Elizabeth Mason-Whitehead is the Head of Medical Sciences at the Chester Medical School, University of Chester. She has held her professorial title since 2009, following her academic career beginning at the University of Liverpool in the 1990s. Her roles include leading the Clinical MD and MSc Rural Health programs, teaching modules on qualitative research, and supervising eight current PhD students researching topics like leprosy stigma and mental health resilience.

• Education: PhD in Sociology (2000, University of Liverpool), BA (Hons) Sociology (1993), and numerous healthcare qualifications including Nursing (1981), Midwifery (1983), and Health Visiting (1987).
• Research Focus: Stigma in healthcare, global health equity, and interdisciplinary approaches to community health. Her 2017 Leprosy Mission-funded research in India examines stigma reduction strategies.
• Publications: Over 30 journal articles and 10 authored/co-authored books, including Key Concepts in Social Work Practice (2013) and Stigma and Social Exclusion in Healthcare (2001).
• Professional Contributions: External examiner at King’s College London and University of Edinburgh, board member of The Leprosy Mission, and founder of the University of Chester’s NHS Historical Society.

Her research on stigma spans teenage pregnancy, bowel disease, and leprosy, with a focus on qualitative methodologies. She has supervised 22 successful PhD completions, many of whom apply their findings to healthcare practice. Awards include the 2017 Maureen and Eddie Askew Bursary for global health research.

Teaching and leadership roles include pioneering reflective practice training (levels 7–8) and collaborating on the Physician Associate program. Grants and initiatives include funding for WWI medical history projects and evaluations of healthcare services in Shrewsbury and Stockport.