Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare

People

Core team

Jeremy HowickProfessor Jeremy Howick

Centre Director and Professor of Empathic Healthcare

Learn more about Professor Jeremy Howick


Andy Ward headshotDr Andy Ward

Associate Professor of Medical Education and Honorary Senior Academic GP

Learn more about Dr Andy Ward


Rachel Winter headshotDr Rachel Winter

Associate Professor of Medical Education and Honorary Consultant in Psychiatry

Learn more about Dr Rachel Winter


Amber Bennett-Weston headshotDr Amber Bennett-Weston

Research Associate

Learn more about Amber Bennett-Weston


Leila Keshtkar headshotDr Leila Keshtkar

Research Associate

Learn more about Dr Leila Keshtkar


Dr Cleo WhiteCleo White headshot

Research Associate


Raj Babla headshotDr Raj Babla

Clinical Implementation Lead


Jamanda Liddicott headshotDr Jamanda Liddicott

Lecturer


Felicity James headshotDr Felicity James

Associate Professor of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Literature

Learn more about Dr Felicity James


Catherine Eyres headshotCatherine Eyres

Centre Manager


Ola TomkowiczOla Tomkowicz headshot

Administrative Assistant


Centre Fellows

Dr Daniel Slavin

Honorary FellowDaniel Slavin headshot

Student representatives

Harry Dudson

Harry Dudson headshotMedical Student and Centre Intern

I am a Medical Student who began my studies as part of the University of Leicester's first cohort of Medicine with a Foundation Year.

I entered medical school after being inspired as a carer for a close family member and having experienced positive and negative clinical interactions. Coming from a single-parent council estate family, I have always been inspired to help others consider a career in education regardless of background. This is alongside using my life experience to focus on every patient in a holistic manner, appreciating the complexities of the human condition.

Throughout my 6 years at university so far, I have taken part in a significant number of outreach sessions to inspire school students to consider a career in education. This even led to me being able to share my experience in a conversation with the Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the University of Leicester's royal visit in 2018. I was also fortunate to be a subject of an NHS and Health Education England initiative entitled, "Dr You" to share how my experience of being a carer inspired me to pursue medicine and use this to motivate students to consider a career in healthcare.

In 2023, I graduated with a Master's degree in medical research by conducting a research project entitled "Evaluating the benefits of promoting social and community integration following a diagnosis of autism in adulthood". This project allowed me to explore my interest in research and inspired me to consider how clinical interactions could be optimised. Reflections on my project enhanced my curiosity for empathy as a skill and area of research. A topic which was first introduced during my foundation year back in 2017. I believe empathy is a skill which is fundamental to improve outcomes for patients as well as promote a healthier, supportive and efficient working environment interprofessionally.

Esther Kentish

Esther Kentish headshotPhD student

Supervisors

Biography

Esther Kentish holds a Bachelor of Arts (2017) in English Literature and Language with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Science (2018) in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Science (2020) in Medical Humanities from King's College London. Esther matriculated at the University of Oxford in 2020 and spent two years in the Faculty of English. Esther worked with patients in a hospital as a Mental Health Technician in the geriatric in North Carolina, United States, and is currently working in Britain on COVID-19 research. Her research focuses on scientific communication, medical humanities, poetry, life writing, autobiography, and biography. Authoring 6 books, one of which, The Emotional Healing Behind Words, is a poetic memoir featuring a critical, meta-data analysis of 47 poems written between 2009 and 2012. Esther is a member of the Royal Society of Literature and an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Research

TEDx speaker and published author, Esther Kentish, examines the interwoven parts and interactions between illness and narrative in projects that communicate the scientific aspects of medicine and illness through life-writing, patient narratives, and digital media. In addition, the publication of Esther's literary work promotes de-stigmatization of illnesses while investigating their origin and cause. Esther's study focuses on English literature and medicine, two specific subfields under Medical Humanities. Esther intends to use her research platform in medical humanities and literature to examine the impacts of mortality from diseases and illnesses, the realities of pandemics in both abstract and physical spaces, and its impact on both gender and race. Esther is enthusiastic about utilising qualitative tools such as metadata analysis and data visualisation as well as artistic tools (particularly performing arts such as spoken word poetry, music, and dance) to communicate statistical value and medical information regarding the aetiology and progression of disease. Esther is presenting her research on COVID-19, patient narratives, autobiographies, and biographies in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.

Collaborators

Professor Elizabeth Anderson

Elizabeth Anderson headshotProfessor of Interprofessional Education and Patient Safety Lead

Learn more about Professor Elizabeth Anderson

Terese Bird

Terese Bird headshotEducational Designer, Leicester Medical School

Learn more about Terese Bird

Professor Flis Bishop

Flis Bishop headshotProfessor of Health Psychology, University of Southampton

Learn more about Professor Flis Bishop

Jono Broad

Jono Broad headshotLived Experience Ambassador, NHS England

I have 30 years of experience working as a patient leader with a long-term condition helping to improve patient engagement, quality improvement and patient safety.

In my working life I am a matrix worker for NHS England working on personalised care, quality, safety as well as in primary care improvement.

I’ve had the privilege of working and knowing the NHS from bed to board. I’ve seen both the best and worst and I believe we can and should work toward a safe, reliable effective care system that supports both patient and staff in everything they do. I am committed to transforming the human experience of health and care for all.

Key to improvement in care is empathetic care. Working with the Stoneygate Centre for empathetic healthcare as a lived experience ambassador I want to see empathy at the centre of training for all staff.

Follow me on Twitter @QIPatient or connect with me on LinkedIn @jonobroad.

Dr Mohammadreza Hojat

Director of the Jefferson Longitudinal Study

Learn more about Dr Mohammadreza Hojat

Professor Stewart Mercer

Stewart Mercer headshotProfessor of Primary Care and Multimorbidity, The University of Edinburgh

Learn more about Professor Stewart Mercer

Keith Nockels

Academic Librarian (Medicine and Healthcare) 

Dr Dinesh Palipana

Dinesh Palipana headshotDr Dinesh Palipana

International empathy, disability and diversity expert.

Find out more about Dr Dinesh Palipana

Dr Barbara Powell

Barbara Powell headshotConsultant in Palliative Medicine and Senior Lecturer

An experienced Advanced Communication Skills Training course facilitator, who regularly delivers courses to senior health care professionals. Barbara has developed and delivers innovative teaching to medical students in their clinical years that focuses on patient-centred care in the context of managing serious disease such as cancer. Simulation and facilitated debrief promotes the value of empathy alongside managing clinical complexity.

Laura Power

Laura Power headshotRegistered Midwife and Maternity Safety Champion for Community, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Laura currently holds the role of Maternity Safety Champion for University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL), with a focus on patient safety and staff wellbeing. In this role, she ensures UHL listens to the voices of service users and staff to improve the patient experience. Laura is also a clinical Midwife. As part of her journey,  Laura has been privileged to work, as a lead for UHL, in collaboration with the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare, training nurses and midwives in empathy. Laura has also embarked on the Maternity Project with Professor Howick and his team, looking to improve patient safety through empathic caregiving.

Dr Gary Redfeather

Gary Redfeather headshotGlobal Executive Positive Psychology Coach

Gary is a 30+ year clinician, researcher, educator, and global business strategist, weaving together a deep understanding of neuroscience and neuroplasticity, positive psychology, and mind-body practices, with strategic and future-based scenario planning, cross-cultural team management, subconscious bias, and post-traumatic growth.

Daniel Stendall

Daniel Stendall headshotDeputy Head of Nursing Alliance and Professional Nurse Advocate, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Daniel Stendall RN(A) is a Deputy Head of Nursing at the University Hospitals of Leicester. He has over 20 years nursing experience across a number of NHS organsisations and, as a qualified Emergency Nurse, he spent 12 years in the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service. Undertaking his commission, he spent 3 years as a Leadership Instructor at the Royal Air Force College Cranwell. Educated to Master’s level, he is also a Professional Nurse Advocate and has a keen interest in leadership and empathy. After supporting our work with UHL last year, he is excited to continue to support the Stoneygate Centre working on a project with UHL Maternity Services.

Sam Winter

Sam Winter headshotCollege Marketing and Recruitment Manager

Professor David Wright

David Wright headshotHead of the School of Healthcare

Learn more about Professor David Wright

International Advisory Board

Professor Sue Carr

Sue Carr headshotDeputy Medical Director, General Medical Council; Consultant Nephrologist, University Hospitals of Leicester; Honorary Professor, University of Leicester

Learn more about Professor Sue Carr

Harry Dudson

Harry Dudson headshotMedical Student and Centre Intern

I am a Medical Student who began my studies as part of the University of Leicester's first cohort of Medicine with a Foundation Year.

I entered medical school after being inspired as a carer for a close family member and having experienced positive and negative clinical interactions. Coming from a single-parent council estate family, I have always been inspired to help others consider a career in education regardless of background. This is alongside using my life experience to focus on every patient in a holistic manner, appreciating the complexities of the human condition.

Throughout my 6 years at university so far, I have taken part in a significant number of outreach sessions to inspire school students to consider a career in education. This even led to me being able to share my experience in a conversation with the Prince and Princess of Wales as part of the University of Leicester's royal visit in 2018. I was also fortunate to be a subject of an NHS and Health Education England initiative entitled, "Dr You" to share how my experience of being a carer inspired me to pursue medicine and use this to motivate students to consider a career in healthcare.

In 2023, I graduated with a Master's degree in medical research by conducting a research project entitled "Evaluating the benefits of promoting social and community integration following a diagnosis of autism in adulthood". This project allowed me to explore my interest in research and inspired me to consider how clinical interactions could be optimised. Reflections on my project enhanced my curiosity for empathy as a skill and area of research. A topic which was first introduced during my foundation year back in 2017. I believe empathy is a skill which is fundamental to improve outcomes for patients as well as promote a healthier, supportive and efficient working environment interprofessionally.

Professor Kevin Eva

Kevin Eva headshotAssociate Director and Scientist in the Centre for Health Education Scholarship, and Professor and Director of Educational Research and Scholarship in the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Learn more about Professor Kevin Eva

Professor Sir Muir Gray CBE

Muir Gray headshotExecutive Director of the Oxford Centre for Triple Value Healthcare, and a Director of the Optimal Ageing Programme; Advisor to Public Health England and Chair of the NHS Health and Social Care Digital Service

Learn more about Professor Sir Mayur Lakhani (CBE)

Professor Jodi Halpern

Jodi Halpern headshotProfessor of Bioethics and Medical Humanities in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley; Co-founder and Co-Director, Berkeley Group for the Ethics and Regulation of Innovative Technologies

Learn more about Professor Jodi Halpern

Professor Sir Mayur Lakhani CBE

Mayur Lakhani headshotChair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management; Board Member and Chair of the Clinical Executive of NHS Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Integrated Care System; GP Principal-Partner in Leicestershire

Learn more about Professor Sir Mayur Lakhani (CBE)

Professor Sheona Macleod

Sheona Macleod headshotMedical Director for Education Reform and Professional Development, Workforce Training and Education Directorate, NHS England; Honorary Professor, University of Leicester and Honorary Fellow, University of Nottingham

Learn more about Professor Sheona Macleod

Dr Dinesh Palipana

Dinesh Palipana headshotEmergency department doctor at the Gold Coast University Hospital; Senior lecturer at Griffith University; Research Fellow at the Jamieson Trauma Institute

Learn more about Dr Dinesh Palipana

Lauren Stanley

Lauren Stanley headshotLeicester Medical School Student

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