Sally Sargeant

Biography

Dr. Sally Sargeant has shaped an esteemed career in teaching, research and service in health psychology and medicine within UK and Australian universities. She is currently Associate Professor of Psychology and Health Communications at SCU and served as Deputy Dean of Health and Human Sciences here from 2017-2020. Originally from the UK, she achieved her PhD in Health Psychology from Loughborough University, and assumed her first academic position as a lecturer in psychology at Keele University. She relocated to Australia in 2012, to lead the implementation of health psychology in medical curricula at Bond University for five years, before arriving at SCU in late 2017.

Research

Sally's primary research interests are language and communication in healthcare, together with the psychological principles that underpin interactions. This covers many areas, ranging from conversations in clinical care with patients, through to the training of health professionals and institutional processes. She uses qualitative and quantitative methods, and works with clinicians, health professions' educators and community members. Her recent work focusses on Internet forum communication about health and illness, decision making, and health workers' preparedness for practice.

Statement for HDR students

Sally is included on the register of principal HDR supervisors at SCU. An experienced supervisor at Doctoral, Masters and Honours level, Sally welcomes enquiries from prospective research degree candidates and is committed to giving students the best learning experience in research training. She has successfully supervised students in principal and associate supervisory capacities in the areas of critical health psychology and health professional education.

Other

Grants

• 2017 Domestic Violence Screening in the Emergency Department. Gold Coast Emergency Medicine Foundation, $61 000 (CI)
• 2018 Community perceptions and misperceptions about local organic food and farming; a collaboration between SCU Centre for Organics Research and Santos Organics
• 2016 Vice Chancellors Award, Bond University, Shared decision making and prostate cancer
• 2012: Vice Chancellors Award, Bond University, Investigation of medical students’ professional identity
• 2011 Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship Award (IEF-7), Paediatric Medical Psychology and Interpersonal Trust, € 180 000 (CI)
• 2011 Action on health literacy in Stoke-on-Trent: NHS Stoke-on-Trent and Stoke City Council

Awards

• 2014 Best Applied Science Poster, Gold Coast Health and Medical Research conference (w/Alicia Olsen and Justin Keogh)
• 2013 Australasian Society for Behavioural Health in Medicine – Best conference poster (w/ Neda Mahmoodi)