Sarah Hanson

Sarah Hanson is an Associate Professor in Community Health at the School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia. She is deputy lead of Theme 1 - Behaviour, Inequalities and Health at the Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging and part of the SCORES project examining cognitive health in aging athletes. Her research focuses on preventative health, poverty, and asset-based community development, with particular attention to food insecurity, health literacy, and under-researched populations. She actively engages in public health advocacy through initiatives like the Norfolk Green Care Network and contributes to events such as the Norwich Science Festival.

Educational Background

• PhD in 'Towards an understanding of walking groups as a health promoting intervention' (Norwich Medical School, 2016)
• Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Research (University of East Anglia, 2011)
• Master of Education in Learning and Teaching (University of East Anglia, 2011)

Research Themes

Hanson’s work integrates community partnerships to address health inequalities through asset-based approaches. Key interests include salutogenesis, green social prescribing, and the cognitive health of athletes. Her projects span topics like food poverty, hoarding behaviors, and caregiver interventions, emphasizing participatory methodologies and policy relevance.

Key Projects

• Nourishing Norfolk (2024–2025): Community-led health behavior change
• Outcomes Matter (2023–2025): Improving outcome measures for marginalized groups
• JOINT SUPPORT (2022–2024): Caregiving intervention for chronic pain patients

Awards & Recognition

• UEA Engagement Award for Partnership Working (2021)
• Achievement Award for Public and Community Engagement (2017)
• First Prize for Best Oral Presentation (2014)

Grants & Advising

Hanson has secured funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, NHS Integrated Care Boards, and community foundations. She mentors students in qualitative methods and public health research. Her work has been featured in media outlets discussing food poverty, hoarding, and pandemic impacts.

Labs/Teams

She collaborates with the Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging and the SCORES project, contributing to interdisciplinary teams advancing health equity and aging research.