About
Dr. Kathryn Martin is a Senior Lecturer in Academic Primary Care at the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen. She holds a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MPH in Chronic Disease Epidemiology from Yale University, and a BA in Sociology from the College of the Holy Cross. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Aging (NIH), jointly sponsored by the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing in London. She joined the University of Aberdeen in 2013 and is actively engaged in research, teaching, and public engagement.
- BA Sociology – College of the Holy Cross, Worcester (2000)
- MPH, Chronic Disease Epidemiology – Yale University, School of Public Health (2003)
- PhD, Health Behavior and Health Education – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health (2009)
- FHEA, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education – AdvanceHE (2018)
Her research focuses on the interplay between social, economic, and environmental factors affecting health, particularly in older adults and individuals with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions. She investigates how physical activity influences physical and mental health, symptom management, and functional outcomes. Her work emphasizes patient and public involvement (PPIE) and community-based interventions such as the Walk With Ease UK programme. She is also deeply interested in health inequalities and the wider determinants of health, aiming to translate research into policy and practice.
The 15 most recent articles analyzed reflect a strong focus on physical activity, aging, arthritis, and public health. They span methodological work on physical activity measurement (e.g., accelerometry), social and environmental influences on health behaviors, and interventions for chronic conditions. Key themes include the impact of socioeconomic status, neighborhood environment, and chronic pain on health outcomes, as well as strategies for improving health equity and community engagement in research.
Scientific Awards and Recognitions:
- Nominated, Principal's Excellence in Teaching Award - Best Postgraduate Taught Lecturer (2020)
- Santander Mobility Award for travel collaboration with University of Massachusetts Medical School (2017)
- Delegate, International Young Scotland Programme (2014)
Dr. Martin has secured and contributed to multiple research grants as Principal or Co-Investigator, including projects funded by MRC/UKRI/Versus Arthritis, Chief Scientist Office Scotland, and Arthritis Research UK. These grants support research on neuropathic pain, fatigue in inflammatory rheumatic diseases, fibromyalgia management, and physical activity during the pandemic. She is also the academic lead for the School’s Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) initiative and actively collaborates with Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, and Robert Gordon University through the NIHR-funded Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Aberdeen. Her teaching includes coordinating the Epidemiology course and leading the on-campus Master of Public Health programme.
Dr. Martin is actively involved in research networks and knowledge exchange, including the Scottish Pain Research Community (SPaRC), Osteoarthritis Action Alliance (USA), and as an external examiner for the University of Liverpool’s online MPH. She regularly engages with patient groups and the public through talks, café-style events, and community festivals, promoting arthritis awareness and physical activity.
