Celebrating our AGE Research Group PhD Successes
Jonny Bunn and Freya Thompson, members of the AGE Research Group, have both recently successfully defended their PhD theses focusing on different aspects of multiple long-term conditions.
Jonny Bunn, a Geriatric Medicine Registrar, has recently completed his doctoral research alongside his work as a Clinical Research Associate on the UKRI-NIHR funded ADMISSION Research Collaborative. His PhD project focused on the epidemiology of MLTC among older people admitted to hospital, drawing on routinely collected data from Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and MASS Lifecourse. As part of his doctoral studies Jonny published a scoping review highlighting the importance of consistency in the characterisation of MLTC and associated complexity among older adults accessing hospital care. Jonny has now returned to his training in geriatric medicine where he employs his research knowledge and expertise to inform clinical practice.
Jonny said: ‘The AGE Research Group has provided fantastic support, and I’d highly recommend the group to anyone interested in a research career’.
Freya Thompson, who has a Master’s degree in Social Research, was supported by the Vivensa Foundation and Newcastle University to conduct a qualitative inquiry into perceptions of hospital care quality among people living with MLTC. Allied to the ADMISSION Research Collaborative, Freya’s work combined an analysis of primary data from interviews she conducted with people living with MLTC with a secondary analysis of accounts provided by people with MLTC writing for the Mass Observation Project, a social history archive. Freya’s published scoping review highlighted unmet needs for holistic, person-centred care and a prioritisation of acute presentations over long-term conditions. Freya is now progressing her career in archives and genealogical research while continuing to advocate for people with MLTC.
Freya said: ‘Newcastle University is a world-class institution and the AGE Group is such a supportive team dedicated to improving lives’.
In line with our commitment to providing opportunities for the development of a broad range of research skills for people from different academic backgrounds we are delighted to have supported Jonny and Freya. We wish them both all the best for the future!