Joanna Semlyen is a Professor of Psychology and Equality at the University of East Anglia's Norwich Medical School, affiliated with the Lifespan Health and Epidemiology and Public Health research groups. She holds roles as Associate Dean for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Chair of Norwich Medical School’s Athena SWAN committee, and Academic Lead for the IDEA initiative (Increasing Diversity and Equity of Access). Her research focuses on health inequalities in LGBTQ+ and ethnic minority populations, employing mixed methods including interpretative phenomenological analysis and epidemiological meta-analyses. She also leads initiatives in EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in education and research design. Dr. Semlyen completed her PhD and MSc in Health Psychology at City University London, following a BSc in Psychology. She is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Health Psychologist registered with the Health Care Professions Council, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her teaching includes qualitative research methods and health psychology modules. Key projects include the Wellcome Trust-funded IDEA initiative enhancing institutional inclusion, the NIHR EASE trial evaluating post-stroke emotionalism treatments, and collaborations on disability access in laboratory environments. She chairs the East of England’s Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis network and serves on committees like the Medical Schools Council EDI Alliance. Her recent publications address bystander intervention training in medicine, healthcare equity in medical education, and resilience strategies among LGBTQ+ refugees. Semlyen’s work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health equity and quality education.
