Bevan Fellow
Julia is an Associate Professor at Swansea University. She works closely with Deaf communities to improve healthcare policy and practice to reduce health inequalities that Deaf people experience.
Julia is Director of the Tackling Deaf health inequalities research centre and leads and works on projects to see positive changes for people who are Deaf and hard of hearing, and ultimately to improve physical and mental health. Julia is currently studying British Sign Language (BSL) Level 4. Julia has 30 years’ experience as a mental health nurse and has held leadership roles in the NHS and in Higher Education relating to service provision, organisation and quality assurance. She works closely with third sector agencies.
“During my fellowship, I will refine and expand the DeafAware eLearning package, co-designed with Deaf communities to enhance Deaf awareness in healthcare. I will analyse feedback, conduct stakeholder surveys, and gather strategic insights to improve adoption, usability, and impact.
During the two-year Bevan Fellowship, I will lead a multidisciplinary team refining and disseminating the DeafAware eLearning package, ensuring it is inclusive, impactful, and widely accessible. By involving Deaf contributors, particularly people of colour and LGBTQ+ individuals, I will model inclusive leadership that values diverse lived experiences.
I hope to gain the leadership and strategic skills needed to elevate the Tackling Deaf Health Inequalities Research Centre into a flagship institution for Deaf health research. The Centre’s early successes, co-designed with Deaf communities, have laid a strong foundation.
The Bevan Fellowship will equip me with the tools and networks to advance interdisciplinary collaborations across Wales, the UK, and beyond, developing Deaf researchers, and driving impactful change in health and social care experiences for Deaf individuals.”
