معرفی
Dr. Alison Ward is an Associate Professor at the University of Northampton's Centre for Health Sciences and Services, and Co-Lead of the Northamptonshire Dementia Research & Innovation Centre. She holds a PhD from the University of Northampton (2019) and has expertise in dementia research, creative engagement methods (e.g., storytelling, drama, photography), and patient/public involvement. Her work emphasizes improving care for people with dementia through innovative interventions and arts-based approaches.
Education: PhD in 2019 (using photography/storytelling with early-stage dementia patients), Master’s in Psychology (2010, Open University), and Bachelor’s in Drama & Psychology (1996, University of Leicester).
Research focuses on dementia care, creative methods in healthcare, and ethical research practices. Notable projects include the Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship (2015) exploring creative engagement in Denmark, co-founding the Forget Me Nots social group for young-onset dementia, and developing dementia-friendly consent processes. She is a Visiting Fellow at the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory (University of West London) and actively involved in national networks like the Royal Society for Public Health’s Arts, Health & Wellbeing SIG.
Key projects include evaluating Northamptonshire’s Memory Hub, developing a lifelong learning intervention for dementia patients, and creating the Storytelling Connects card game. Her work spans 17 funded projects, including collaborations with NHS trusts and charities.
Awards include the Winston Churchill Fellowship and recognition for her role in enhancing dementia-friendly initiatives. She chairs the University’s Research Ethics Committee and advocates for high ethical standards in research.
