Professor Sally Fowler Davis

Sally is Co-Director of the Health and Care Research Centre and interim Co-Lead for the Planetary and Population Health Research Group in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care. She teaches internationally on public health leadership and is seconded part-time in a senior role in the NHS associated with clinical academic development and driving research in practice settings.

Sally holds multiple large grants associated with sustaining the wider health economy to improve population health. She is leading the University initiative to introduce ‘net zero’ capability across the health and care curriculum and is actively involved in critical debates about equity and sustainability.

[email protected]

Background

Sally is an experienced academic and research leader with national policy, regional strategy and organisational leadership knowledge. At ARU since 2023, she leads researcher development and also holds a secondment with East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust. These leadership roles maintain a focus on evidence-based practice and enable a national/international contribution to enable clinical academic careers.

Sally's current research interests include implementing workforce sustainability in rural, coastal, and deprived communities in the context of organisational austerity and climate breakdown. With previous roles in policy (Department of Health), health and care systems (South Yorkshire ICB) and health and care organisational management, she has led national quality improvement programmes.

Using implementation research including ethnographic and participatory methods, Sally is committed to engaging industry, communities of practitioners, patients and communities’ representatives in the planning, processing and evaluation of health improvements. She is increasingly highlighting risks to health and wellbeing from climate change (funded projects including cognitive frailty and environmental risk factors (BBSRC/MRC); assessing the sustainability of social robotics to home and lifestyle of older people (EPSRC/UKRI) and international projects that focus on climate change and planetary health interventions (Global Challenge Research Fund).

Areas of expertise:

• Health services research, implementation and impact
• Planetary health and nature based solutions

Research interests

• Population health outcomes and health impact assessment
• Organisational implementation and improvement
• Research capacity and capability building
• Whole systems methodologies and evaluation
• Public health leadership

Public involvement and co-production to identify the risks and opportunities to mitigate health challenges is at the centre of Sally’s research practice. She has adopted civic and whole systems initiatives to draw community knowledge and assets into studies relating to health and wellbeing and is widely acknowledged as an expert on engaging more marginal people and population groups including those who are frail and very old. The voices of seldom heard groups is then used to inform and manage implementation studies, assessing the health impact and evaluating the likelihood of sustained change and improvement.

With significant funding and programme management experience, Sally is committed to the development of transdisciplinary research teams, including early career and doctoral researchers and collaboration with national and international stakeholders.

Areas of research supervision

Sally is an experienced supervisor and examiner of PhD students and mentor of NIHR Doctoral Fellowships. She initiated fee-waived sponsored PhDs in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care. She supervises projects on the topics of:

• Community/environmental/organisational focus
• Population health and wellbeing
• Complex process evaluations including whole systems perspectives
• Action methods, participatory research and co-production
• Mapping population health and outcomes for long term conditions and environmental risk
• Healthcare workforce including clinical academic practices

Recent completions

• Lucie Nield (Sheffield Hallam University) – Systems approaches to living with obesity (July 2024)
• Megan Davies (Basel University) – Tri-National ethnographic multi-case study of person-centred practices on resident quality of life in long term residential care (Dec 2022)
• Rachel Hawley (Sheffield Hallam University) Relational Leadership in the NHS: how healthcare leaders identify with public engagement (Dec 2021)

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Business Administration, Sheffield Hallam University 2010
• Masters in Education, University of Leeds 1995
• Diploma in Occupational Therapy (State Registration) York St John University 1986

Memberships, editorial boards

• New Frontiers in Public Health
• Reviewer for BMJ Open, Gerontologist

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

National institute of Health Research (NIHR), HSR&D AHP Workforce Partnership, £5.5million, 2024-2029

NIHR, I SWAP: Investigation into Imaging Support Workers and Assistant Practitioners, £486,000, 2022-2024

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), I'M-ACTIVE: Intelligent Multimodal Assessment and Coaching Through Identification of Vulnerabilities in older pEople, £400,482, 2023-2024

Medical Research Council (MRC), integrating understanding between lifespan biological, health, socio-economic, environmental and behavioural mechanisms affecting cognitive frailty, £12,419, 2022-2024

Voluntary Action Sheffield, Complex Programme evaluation of the the role of community organisations to enabling health promotion and in the development of population health approaches in relation to people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus, £12,210, 2021-2022

Westfield Health, A systematic review of fatigue interventions and outcomes to inform products and service development for long haul recovery from Covid19, 2021-present

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Preparation of NIHR application for programme award: Health Coaching Internship at AWRC, £17,000, 2021-2022

Westfield Health, The Darnall Well Being Researcher in Residence / Civic Fellowship: Youth and Young Adults Engagement Programme., £8,500, 2021-2023

NIHR, Clinical implementation of PRIME risk prediction tool to reduce medication-related harm in older people, £11,237 2021-2022

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation, Co-developing a sustainable, meaningful, digital platform to enhance mobility and active ageing of community dwelling older adults (>75 years), £30,774, 2021-present

Pfizer UK Ltd, Amplify the patient voice for people living with a long-term MSK condition & chronic pain during the Covid-19 pandemic to enable tailoring of services & support to meet their needs quickly & effectively, £39,658, 2021

Sport England, Development of a virtual sport & exercise medicine-led COVID-19 clinic to support people with long-haul symptoms, £49,500, 2020-2021

NHS England, Evaluation of the Universal Enhanced Support offer to Care Homes during the C19 pandemic in the North East and Yorkshire Region, £4,950, 2020

Internal Funding - QR SPF Management Group, Transforming Health and Wellbeing through place-based partnerships., £36,300 2020

NHS Sheffield, Narrative thematic analysis of initial outcomes the Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes team, NHS Sheffield CCG, £8,850, 2020

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Developing research in care homes, £20,000, 2019-2020

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Phase II-Enhanced Health in Care Homes Research Activity, £5,264, 2018-2019

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Assessing the Inter-rater reliability of the Sheffield Caseload Classification Tool for community nursing, 2018

Ashgate Hospicecare, Triage of patients referred to Chesterfield CNS specialist palliative care service: service evaluation, £22,920, 2018

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Enhanced Health in Care Homes Research Activity, £9,032, 2018

NHS England, 3rings Plug Evaluation, £12,453, 2017-2018

St Luke's Hospice, Patient Acuity and Dependency, £14,669, 2017-2018

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, Development of health impact assessment as a rigorous methodology for knowledge mobilisation, £5,000, 2017

Dunhill Medical Trust, An observational study to assess thermal comfort of frail older people in a care home setting, £84,757 2017-2018

Making Space, Admiral Service Evaluation, £20,000, 2016-2017

Public Health England, Mapping AHP input to PHP, £20,000, 2014-2016

Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group/NHS England, Phase I & II-Enhanced Health in Care Homes Transformation Lead, £34,264, 2017-18

Department of Trade and Industry, Re-Ablement in York Social Care Knowledge Transfer Partnership, £350,000, 2009

Assist UK/Disabled Living Foundation, Co-Design of ‘Trusted Assessor’ Programme, £246,000, 2008-2009

York St John University, Identification of Telecare Opportunities in Rehabilitation HEIF, £150,000, 2007-2008

NHS Improvement and Innovation, Design and Implementation of the Nation Improvement Curriculum, £750,000, 2005-2009

Selected recent publications

Chandler, R., Hayes, T., Willis, S., McKinstry, C., Grafton, K, and Fowler Davis, S. (2024) 'Exploring solutions for the recruitment and retention issues within the rural and coastal Allied Health Professions workforce: A rapid review', BMC Health Services Research (submitted).

Nield, L., Jackson, C., Tarpani, R,.Di Nuovo, A., Story, M. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2024) 'What social and environmental considerations are important for healthcare robotic adoption for pre-frail older adults at home: a scoping review, lifecycle assessment and survey', BMC Geriatrics (submitted).

Fowler-Davis, S. and Davies, M. (2024) 'Understanding the effects of social cohesion on social wellbeing: a scoping review', Reviews in Public Health (accepted).

Vagnetti, R., Camp, N., Story, M., Ait-Belaid, K., Mitra, S., Fowler Davis, S., Meese, H., Zecca, M., Di Nuovo, A. and Daniele, M. (2024) 'Social Robots and Sensors for Enhanced Aging at Home: A Focus on Mobility and Socioeconomic Factors', JMIR Aging, 7, e63092.

Wilson, C, Prothero, L., … Fowler Davis, S. (2024) "Developing the Allied Health Professionals Workforce within Mental Health, Learning Disability, and Autism Inpatient Services: Rapid Review of Learning from Quality and Safety Incidents', BMJ Quality and Safety.

Hembrough, D,. Jackson, C., Platts, K.and Fowler Davis, S. (2024) 'Engaging young adults in employment using co-production and sport', International Sports Studies, 46(1), pp. 66-85. Available at: https://doi.org/10.69665/iss.v46i1.22

Chen, L., Ioannou, E., Ali, K., Fosker, S., Bromley, V., Mensah, E. and Fowler Davis, S. (2024) 'Toward co-production approach to promote physical activity of older people: A scoping review', International Journal of Qualitative Methods (under review).

McKercher, J. P., Peiris, C. L., Hill, A. M., Peterson, S., Thwaites, C., Fowler-Davis, S. and Morris, M. E. (2024) 'Hospital falls clinical practice guidelines: a global analysis and systematic review', Age and Ageing, 53(7).

Fowler Davis, S., Eacott, R. and Sconnes, H. (2024) 'The Role of Business in Addressing Inequality Through Nature', briefing paper, ISBN: 978-1-912319-09-1. Available at: https://doi.org/10.25411/aru.25305478.v3

Ali, K., Mensah, E. A., McDermott, E. A., Kirkham, F. A., Stevenson, J., Hamer, V., … Gage, H. (2022) 'Implementation of a medicine management plan (MMP) to reduce medication-related harm (MRH) in older people post-hospital discharge: a randomised controlled trial', BMC Geriatrics, 22. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03555-w

Fowler-Davis, S., Woodward, C., Greenfield, B., Homer, C., Williams, K., Hameed, W., … Bryan, G. (2022) 'Bringing lived experience into research: good practices for public involvement in research', Perspectives in Public Health, 142(4), pp. 205-208. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/17579139221102229

Fowler Davis, S., Humphreys, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Withers, S., Lowe, A. and Copeland, R. (2022) 'Understanding the Needs and Priorities of People Living with Persistent Pain and Long-Term Musculoskeletal Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic – A Public Involvement Project', Healthcare, 10(6). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061130

Fowler Davis, S., Choppin, S. and Kelly, S. (2022) 'Towards an Understanding of Population Health Data in a Single NHS Trust during COVID-19', Healthcare, 10(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10030447

Fowler-Davis, S., Young, R., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Hameed, W., Dracas, E., Hurrell, E., … Copeland, R. (2021) 'Assessing the acceptability of a co-produced long COVID intervention in an underserved community in the UK', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24). Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413191

Fowler-Davis, S., Young, R., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Hameed, W., Dracas, E., Hurrell, E., … Copeland, R. (2021) 'Assessing the Acceptability of a Co-produced Long COVID Intervention in an Underserved Community in the UK', Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. Available at: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202111.0368.v1

Fowler-Davis, S., Platts, K., Thelwell, M., Woodward, A. and Harrop, D. (2021) 'A mixed-methods systematic review of postviral fatigue interventions: Are there lessons for long Covid?', PLoS ONE, e0259533. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259533

Fowler-Davis, S., Cholerton, R., Philbin, M., Clark, K. and Hunt, G. (2021) 'Impact of the Enhanced Universal Support Offer to Care Homes during COVID-19 in the UK: evaluation using appreciative inquiry', Health and Social Care in the Community. Available at: "https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13612

Fowler Davis, S., Cholerton, R., Freeman-Parry, L. and Tsenova, J. (2021) 'The Contribution of Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians to Person-Centred Care within a Medicine’s Optimisation in Care Homes Service: A Qualitative Evaluation', Pharmacy, 9(1), pp. 34. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy9010034

Fowler-Davis, S., Farndon, L., Harrop, D., Nield, L., Manson, J., Lawrence, J., … Hindle, L. (2020) 'A rapid review and expert identification of the allied health professions' interventions as a contribution to public health outcomes', Public Health in Practice, 2, 100067. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhip.2020.100067

Nightingale, J., Fowler-Davis, S., Grafton, K., Kelly, S., Langham, C., Lewis, R., … Harrop, D. (2020) 'The role of Allied Health Professions and Nursing Research Internships in developing a research culture: a mixed-methods exploration of stakeholder perspectives', Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(1), pp. 122. Available at: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0337.v1

Childs, C., Elliott, J., Khatab, K., Hampshaw, S., Fowler-Davis, S., Willmott, J. and Ali, A. (2020) 'Thermal Sensation in Older People, with and without Dementia, Living in Residential Care: New Assessment Approaches Using Infrared Thermography', Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. Available at: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202008.0337.v1

Childs, C., Elliott, J., Khatab, K., Hampshaw, S., Fowler-Davis, S., Willmott, J. R. and Ali, A. (2020) 'Thermal Sensation in Older People with and without Dementia Living in Residential Care: New Assessment Approaches to Thermal Comfort Using Infrared Thermography', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17(18), e6932. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186932

Shafizadeh, M., Manson, J., Fowler-Davis, S., Ali, K., Lowe, A., Stevenson, J., … Davids, K. (2020) 'Effects of Enriched Physical Activity Environments on Balance and Fall Prevention in Older Adults: A Scoping Review', Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2019-0395

Fowler Davis, S., Ariss, S. and Hinde, S. (2020) 'Complex programme evaluation of a ‘New Care Model’ Vanguard: a shared commitment to quality improvement in an integrated health and care context', BMJ Open, 10(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029174

Fowler Davis, S., Barnett, D., Kelley, J. and Curtis, D. (2019) 'Potential for digital monitoring to enhance wellbeing at home for people with mild dementia and their family carers', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-190844

Smith, T., Fowler-Davis, S., Nancarrow, S., Ariss, S. M. B. and Enderby, P. (2019) 'Towards a theoretical framework for integrated team leadership (IgTL)', Journal of Interprofessional Care. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1676209

Davis, S. F. (2019) 'Why a Digitally Enabled Minimum Data Set for Older Adults in Care Homes Might Improve Population Health and Well-Being Outcomes', Gerontology & Geriatrics Studies, 5(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.31031/ggs.2019.05.000613

Kelly, S., Ibbotson, R., Piercy, H. and Davis, S. F. (2019) 'Is there some degree of unmet need in primary care?: analysis of a patient cohort accessing a new out of hours units', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 73 A34. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-SSMabstracts.72

Fowler Davis, S. (2019) 'Releasing Capacity for Nurses to Engage in Research; an organisational development approach', RCN International Nursing Research Conference and Exhibition 2019. Sheffield, UK: Royal College of Nursing.

Pownall, S., Skilbeck, J., Barnett, E., Jimanez-Aranda, A. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2019) 'A consensus based approach to the development of a digital dysphagia management guide for care homes' (abstract only), RCN International Nursing Research Conference and Exhibition 2019. Sheffield, UK: Royal College of Nursing.

Pownall, S., Barnett, E., Skilbeck, J., Jimenez-Aranda, A. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2019) 'The Development of a Digital Dysphagia Guide with Care Homes: Co-Production and Evaluation of a Nutrition Support Tool', Geriatrics 4(3), e48. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics4030048

Chapman, H., Matthews, R., Farndon, L., Stephenson, J. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2019) 'The Sheffield Caseload Classification Tool: testing its inter-rater reliability', British Journal of Community Nursing, 24(8), pp. 362-367. Available at: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.8.362

Fowler-Davis, S., Silvester, A., Barnett, D., Farndon, L. and Ismail, M. (2019) 'Hearing the voices of older adult patients: processes and findings to inform health services research', Research Involvement and Engagement, 5(11). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-019-0143-5

Ulley, J. M., Ali, A., Harrop, D., Fowler-Davis, S., and Alton, S. (2019) 'Deprescribing interventions and their impact on medication adherence in community-dwelling older adults with polypharmacy: a systematic review' (abstract only), Age and ageing, 48, Supp 1, i37. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afy206.02

Ulley, J., Harrop, D., Ali, A., Alton, S. and Fowler Davis, S. (2019) 'Deprescribing interventions and their impact on medication adherence in community-dwelling older adults with polypharmacy: a systematic review', BMC Geriatrics, 19(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1031-4

Di Bona, L., Field, B., Read, J., Jones, N., Fowler-Davis, S., Cudd, P. and Evans, L. (2019) 'Weaving a clinical academic career: illuminating the method and pattern to follow', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82(1), pp. 60-64. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022618784258

Piercy, H., Fowler-Davis, S., Cooper, C. and Dunham, M. (2018) 'Evaluation of an integrated service delivering post diagnostic care and support for people with dementia and their families', Health and Social Care in the Community, 26(6), pp. 819-828. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12592

Smith, T., Fowler-Davis, S., Nancarrow, S., Ariss, S. and Enderby, P. (2018) 'Leadership in interprofessional health and social care teams: a literature review', Leadership in Health Services, 31(4). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHS-06-2016-0026

Fowler Davis, S., King, B. and Doyle, K. (2018) 'Organisational developments using research as a driver for change: an example in tissue viability services',3rd World Congress on Nursing & Nurse Education, Valencia, Spain.

Keen, C., Fowler-Davis, S., Mclean, S. and Manson, J. (2018) 'Physiotherapy practice in pulmonary hypertension: physiotherapist and patient perspectives', Pulmonary Circulation, 8(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/2045894018783738

Kelly, S., Piercy, H., Ibbotson, R. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2018) 'Who attends out-of-hours general practice appointments? Analysis of a patient cohort accessing new out-of-hours units', BMJ Open, 8(6), e020308. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020308

Farndon, L., Stephenson, J., Binns-Hall, O., Knight, K. and Fowler-Davis, S. (2018) 'The PodPAD project: a podiatry-led integrated pathway for people with peripheral arterial disease in the UK – a pilot study', Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 11, 26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-018-0269-y

Skilbeck, J., Barnett, E., Gee, M., Fowler-Davis, S. and Pownall, S. (2018) 'Facilitators to providing nutritional support to older people in care homes: a qualitative study' (abstract only), RCN international nursing research conference and exhibition 2018: Conference abstracts. UK: RCN publishing.

Fowler-Davis, S., Piercy, H., Pearson, S., Thomas, B. and Kelly, S. (2018) 'Factors affecting decisions to extend access to primary care- results of a qualitative evaluation of general practitioners' views', BMJ Open, 8(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019084

Skilbeck, J., Pownall, S., Fowler-Davis, S., Barnett, E., Gee, M. and Jones, D. (2018) 'Development of a Dysphagia Management Protocol for Older Residents in a Care Home Setting' (abstract only), Journal of Oral Health and Dentistry, 1, The Biomedica.

Fowler-Davis, S., Kelly, S. and Piercy, H. (2017) 'Pragmatism in evidence synthesis and translation; a perspective on the evaluation of systems transformation Conference of Evidence-Based Health Care' (abstract only), EBHC International Conference 2017, Taomina, Sicily, Italy.

Kalaitzi, S., Czabanowska, K., Fowler-Davis, S. and Brand, H. (2017) 'Women leadership barriers in healthcare, academia and business', Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, 36(5), pp. 457-474. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/edi-03-2017-0058

Chapman, H., Kilner, M., Matthews, R., White, A., Thompson, A., Fowler-Davis, S. and Farndon, L. (2017) 'Developing a caseload classification tool for community nursing', British Journal of Community Nursing, 22(4), pp. 192-196. Available at: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2017.22.4.192

Fowler Davis, S., Enderby, P., Harrop, D., & Hindle, L. (2017). Mapping the contribution of Allied Health Professions to the wider public health workforce : a rapid review of evidence-based interventions. Journal of Public Health, 39 (1), 177-183. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdw023

Fowler Davis, S. (2015) 'Going for growth: improvement in the infrastructural and management support for clinical academic research', BMJ Quality Improvement Reports, 4(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjquality.u208144.w3845

'Mental Health Update 2002', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(5), pp. 251. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260206500513

Davis, S. F. and Bannigan, K. (2000) 'Priorities in Mental Health Research: The Results of a Live Research Project', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(3), pp. 98-104. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260206500513

Recent presentations and conferences

Fowler Davis, S. and Sixsmith, A. (2023) 'Towards understanding the causes and consequences of climate change for older adult populations- building an academic consensus for research', British Society of Gerontology, Norwich, 5-7 July.

Ioannou, E., Fowler-Davis, S., Henglien-Chen, L., Fosker, S. and Ali, K. (2023) 'Co-developing a sustainable, meaningful, digital, platform to enhance active ageing with community dwelling older adults (>75 years)', British Society of Gerontology, Norwich 5-7 July.

Fowler Davis, S., Sixsmith, A., Bhanduro, S., Fang, M. and White, B. (2023) 'Towards a Just Transition- understanding the causes and consequences of climate change for older adult populations', 17th World Congress in Public Health, Rome, 2-6 May.

Doyle, K. and Fowler Davis, S. (2018) 'Organisational developments using research as a driver for change: an example in tissue viability services', Sheffield Euro Nursing 2018, Valencia, 12-14 July.