معرفی
Dr. Brigit McWade is a Lecturer in Medical Sociology at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University. She is an elected member of the Medical Schools Council's Equality Diversity and Inclusion Alliance and has made significant contributions to medical education through her research on social inequalities, mental health, and EDI initiatives.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Sociology (July 2014)
- MA in Sociological Research Methods (Distinction)
- BA in Sociology (1st class with honours)
- PGCert in Academic Practice (2024)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2020)
Dr. McWade's research expertise centers on interdisciplinary qualitative health research concerning social inequalities and mental health, neurodiversity and disability, and intersectionality. A central interest within this area is the theoretical and political significance of socio-cultural representations of the lived experience of health and wellbeing, and their role in challenging oppression and instigating social change. Since her appointment, she has built a research program focused on making significant impact in medical education at all levels, which directly influences the quality of healthcare provision delivered by future doctors. Her work spans across understanding structural barriers in medical education, examining representations of mental health in society, and developing inclusive pedagogical approaches that address racism and other forms of discrimination in healthcare contexts.
Her scholarly output demonstrates a consistent focus on the intersections between mental health, social justice, and medical education. The trends in her publications reveal a growing emphasis on practical applications of sociological theory to improve medical education, particularly around EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) initiatives. Her recent work has increasingly centered on widening participation in medical education, examining structural and financial barriers that prevent students from diverse backgrounds from succeeding in medical school. Earlier publications focused more on theoretical aspects of madness, mental health recovery, and disability representation, but have evolved to directly address medical education contexts.
Dr. McWade's notable achievements include:
- Being one of the lead authors of the national guidance "Active Inclusion: Challenging exclusions in medical education" for the Medical Schools Council
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2020)
- Contributing to Lancaster University's Race Equality Charter submission
As a doctoral supervisor, Dr. McWade leads impactful research projects addressing critical issues in medical education and healthcare. She currently supervises Eleanor Vowles (full-time, Lancaster Medical School) on "Structural and financial barriers to success in medical education" and Ros Brunwin (part-time, Sociology) on "From Madness to Meaning: Unpicking the reality behind psychosis." She previously supervised Steven Maxwell, whose project "Human Subjects: A novel of novellas" passed forthwith in 2024 with AHRC funding. Her supervision portfolio reflects her commitment to addressing structural inequalities in healthcare and medical education through rigorous scholarly inquiry. She has also secured significant funding for her research, including an ESRC 1+3 scholarship for her doctoral studies and involvement in FHM PhD Studentship projects.
Dr. McWade is actively involved in multiple research groups and initiatives, particularly the Interdisciplinary network in culture, health, ethics and society. She contributes to the Medical Schools Council's EDI Alliance and leads Widening Participation and EDI initiatives at Lancaster Medical School. Her collaborative approach is evident in her extensive teaching across multiple disciplines including Social Theory, Media Theory, Cultural Theory, Gender & Women's Studies, Science & Technology Studies, Biomedicine & Ethics and Qualitative Research. She also participates in numerous academic activities including editorial roles for journals like Social Theory and Health, Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry, and Disability and Society.
