Biography

I graduated from the University of Aveiro (Portugal) in 2012 with a degree in physiotherapy. After a short period of work in private practice I was awarded EU funding to do a research internship at the University of Southampton. 

Following my interest in combining clinical practice and research, I completed a clinical-academic PhD in 2020. My PhD research focused on physical activity for people living with dementia (at the University of Southampton) which I did alongside working as a physiotherapist in an in-patient Older Person's Mental Health unit (St James' hospital - Solent NHS trust).

Since completing my PhD, I continued to work clinically, now as a rotational physiotherapist at Worthing hospital, where I also deliver clinical research alongside other research-active clinicians. More recently I also joined the University of Portsmouth as a physiotherapy lecturer, which has enabled me to use my clinical and research experience to teach future physiotherapists.

Research interests

I am interested in research about rehabilitation, particularly in elderly care, that can be directly applied to clinical practice.

I am currently doing research about the use of mobility scores to predict care and discharge planning of people living with dementia in a acute hospital. This is part the springboard award by the NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I am also supporting colleagues using technology to support rehabilitation in several population groups, including older people following hip fractures and intensive care survivors.

My current research interests include:

• mobility and physical activity levels in acute hospitals
• falls prevention and rehabilitation after falls
• physical activity for people living with dementia
• use of technology in rehabilitation
• intensive care survival and rehabilitation
• outcome measurement
• patient and public involvement and engagement

Teaching responsibilities

I contribute to teaching across the pre-registration MSc in physiotherapy at the university of Portsmouth. I am the module co-ordinator for "Professional principles and clinical management" and "Complex cases in physiotherapy".