Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
@durhamimh.bsky.social
Improving health by understanding hidden experience.
Supported by Wellcome.
durham.ac.uk/imh
medhumsplatform.org
Supported by Wellcome.
durham.ac.uk/imh
medhumsplatform.org
"Our patients said they learned a lot about persistent pain... including strategies to cope with it " 🌟
- Jonathan Coates, GP at St Anthony's Health Centre
Jonathan shares how using creative facilitation at his GP practice has benefitted both patients & staff: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Jonathan Coates, GP at St Anthony's Health Centre
Jonathan shares how using creative facilitation at his GP practice has benefitted both patients & staff: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
Testimonial – St Anthony's Health Centre
GP Jonathan Coates reflects on his experience of creative facilitation and how it is has been used at his GP practice.
medhumsplatform.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:01 AM
"Our patients said they learned a lot about persistent pain... including strategies to cope with it " 🌟
- Jonathan Coates, GP at St Anthony's Health Centre
Jonathan shares how using creative facilitation at his GP practice has benefitted both patients & staff: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Jonathan Coates, GP at St Anthony's Health Centre
Jonathan shares how using creative facilitation at his GP practice has benefitted both patients & staff: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
"A real gold standard in terms of facilitation." 🌟
- Thomas Ward, Clinical Psychologist Lecturer @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Read our written interview with Thomas and the AVATAR3 team as they tell us about their experiences of creative facilitation: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Thomas Ward, Clinical Psychologist Lecturer @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Read our written interview with Thomas and the AVATAR3 team as they tell us about their experiences of creative facilitation: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
Creative Facilitation Testimonial - AVATAR3
The AVATAR3 research team reflect on the use of creative facilitation in stakeholder workshops and project planning.
medhumsplatform.org
December 22, 2025 at 8:13 AM
"A real gold standard in terms of facilitation." 🌟
- Thomas Ward, Clinical Psychologist Lecturer @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Read our written interview with Thomas and the AVATAR3 team as they tell us about their experiences of creative facilitation: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Thomas Ward, Clinical Psychologist Lecturer @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social
Read our written interview with Thomas and the AVATAR3 team as they tell us about their experiences of creative facilitation: medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
"Creative facilitation has been transformative in the way that we enable research culture progress at Durham University." 🌟
- Andrew Moss, Research Culture Manager @durham.ac.uk
Read Andrew's full written interview on our website:
medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Andrew Moss, Research Culture Manager @durham.ac.uk
Read Andrew's full written interview on our website:
medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
Testimonial - Flourish at Durham
Andrew Moss tells us about his experience with the Creative Facilitation Unit at Durham University.
medhumsplatform.org
December 19, 2025 at 11:58 AM
"Creative facilitation has been transformative in the way that we enable research culture progress at Durham University." 🌟
- Andrew Moss, Research Culture Manager @durham.ac.uk
Read Andrew's full written interview on our website:
medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
- Andrew Moss, Research Culture Manager @durham.ac.uk
Read Andrew's full written interview on our website:
medhumsplatform.org/creative-fac...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Look it's @coreenanne.bsky.social! @durhamimh.bsky.social
This #UKDisabilityHistoryMonth we're celebrating our Disability History Series, a selection of works exploring global perspectives on disability across society, culture, and time.
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/series/disab...
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/series/disab...
December 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Look it's @coreenanne.bsky.social! @durhamimh.bsky.social
The December edition of our e-bulletin is out 🌟 and it is jam-packed with news, publications and upcoming events from the Discovery Research Platform and the Institute for Medical Humanities!
Read it here: 👇
mailchi.mp/0381d93475e9...
Read it here: 👇
mailchi.mp/0381d93475e9...
IMH newsletter: December 2025
News & updates from the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University.
mailchi.mp
December 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The December edition of our e-bulletin is out 🌟 and it is jam-packed with news, publications and upcoming events from the Discovery Research Platform and the Institute for Medical Humanities!
Read it here: 👇
mailchi.mp/0381d93475e9...
Read it here: 👇
mailchi.mp/0381d93475e9...
On Monday 24 November, the Moving Bodies Lab Bridging Fellow @danielpjones.bsky.social facilitated an international roundtable titled ‘Towards Tourettic Studies: The Future of Tourette Syndrome Research’.
Read Daniel's recap of the event here: medhumsplatform.org/towards-tour...
Read Daniel's recap of the event here: medhumsplatform.org/towards-tour...
Towards Tourettic Studies: The Future of Tourette Syndrome Research
Bridging Fellow Dr. Daniel P. Jones recaps the international roundtable event titled ‘Towards Tourettic Studies: The Future of Tourette Syndrome Research’.
medhumsplatform.org
December 12, 2025 at 12:29 PM
On Monday 24 November, the Moving Bodies Lab Bridging Fellow @danielpjones.bsky.social facilitated an international roundtable titled ‘Towards Tourettic Studies: The Future of Tourette Syndrome Research’.
Read Daniel's recap of the event here: medhumsplatform.org/towards-tour...
Read Daniel's recap of the event here: medhumsplatform.org/towards-tour...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Excited to be launching this new series of online talks, running Feb-July 2026. We'll be talking to a bioengineer, an immersive reality specialist, a visual artist, a glass artist, and a speculative designer on how a whole range of visual & material practices can transform healthcare. Sign up below!
📣 Introducing Lab Coat Lunches: A new free online event series from the Visual & Material Lab! 🥼
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
December 9, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Excited to be launching this new series of online talks, running Feb-July 2026. We'll be talking to a bioengineer, an immersive reality specialist, a visual artist, a glass artist, and a speculative designer on how a whole range of visual & material practices can transform healthcare. Sign up below!
📣 Introducing Lab Coat Lunches: A new free online event series from the Visual & Material Lab! 🥼
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
December 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
📣 Introducing Lab Coat Lunches: A new free online event series from the Visual & Material Lab! 🥼
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
Starting in February 2026, these events will explore visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities.
Find out more: medhumsplatform.org/lab-coat-lun...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
In the final of our 'Recalibrating Stigma' mini-takeover, Caroline Law and Harriet Cooper explores how stigma operates in relation to reproductive norms.
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/05/r...
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/05/r...
Reproductive norms: stigma and disruptions in family-building
In the final of our ‘Recalibrating Stigma’ mini-takeover, Caroline Law and Harriet Cooper explores how stigma operates in relation to reproductive norms.
thepolyphony.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
In the final of our 'Recalibrating Stigma' mini-takeover, Caroline Law and Harriet Cooper explores how stigma operates in relation to reproductive norms.
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/05/r...
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/05/r...
Are you a healthcare worker and/or interested in chronic pain and mental health?
📅 Next week on Thursday 11 December, join us at @durham.ac.uk for a conversation around 'Deprescribing in Pain and Mental Health' 💊
Find out more & reserve your free ticket:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deprescrib...
📅 Next week on Thursday 11 December, join us at @durham.ac.uk for a conversation around 'Deprescribing in Pain and Mental Health' 💊
Find out more & reserve your free ticket:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deprescrib...
Deprescribing in Pain and Mental Health: An Interdisciplinary Conversation
An interdisciplinary conversation with health researchers and practitioners to discuss deprescribing in chronic pain and mental health.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Are you a healthcare worker and/or interested in chronic pain and mental health?
📅 Next week on Thursday 11 December, join us at @durham.ac.uk for a conversation around 'Deprescribing in Pain and Mental Health' 💊
Find out more & reserve your free ticket:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deprescrib...
📅 Next week on Thursday 11 December, join us at @durham.ac.uk for a conversation around 'Deprescribing in Pain and Mental Health' 💊
Find out more & reserve your free ticket:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deprescrib...
In a new publication, Órla Murray, IMH Honorary Fellow, reflects on her diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in the context of a feminist queer crip approach.
Read our news article and the access the full article here:
medhumsplatform.org/crip-guts-st...
Read our news article and the access the full article here:
medhumsplatform.org/crip-guts-st...
Crip guts, stomas, and the violence of ‘returning to normal’
In a new publication, Órla Murray, IMH Honorary Fellow, reflects on her diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in the context of a feminist queer crip approach.
medhumsplatform.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In a new publication, Órla Murray, IMH Honorary Fellow, reflects on her diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in the context of a feminist queer crip approach.
Read our news article and the access the full article here:
medhumsplatform.org/crip-guts-st...
Read our news article and the access the full article here:
medhumsplatform.org/crip-guts-st...
Postdoctoral Research Associate Kate Marks, part of the Moving Bodies Lab and @durham.ac.uk Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences has been awarded a Visiting Fellowship to Linköping University!
Read more from Kate in our news article here:
medhumsplatform.org/durham-to-li...
Read more from Kate in our news article here:
medhumsplatform.org/durham-to-li...
Durham to Linköping: Advancing Research on Intersectionality, Disability and Social Change
Postdoctoral Research Associate Kate Marks has been awarded a Visiting Fellowship to Linköping University in Sweden.
medhumsplatform.org
December 2, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Postdoctoral Research Associate Kate Marks, part of the Moving Bodies Lab and @durham.ac.uk Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences has been awarded a Visiting Fellowship to Linköping University!
Read more from Kate in our news article here:
medhumsplatform.org/durham-to-li...
Read more from Kate in our news article here:
medhumsplatform.org/durham-to-li...
Welcome to Darren Scantlebury-Watson, who joins the Operations Team in the Discovery Research Platform as a Finance Coordinator. We're excited to have him on board! 🥳
medhumsplatform.org/welcoming-da...
medhumsplatform.org/welcoming-da...
Welcoming Darren Scantlebury-Watson
Welcome to Darren Scantlebury-Watson who joins the Discovery Research Platform in the role of Finance Coordinator.
medhumsplatform.org
December 2, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Welcome to Darren Scantlebury-Watson, who joins the Operations Team in the Discovery Research Platform as a Finance Coordinator. We're excited to have him on board! 🥳
medhumsplatform.org/welcoming-da...
medhumsplatform.org/welcoming-da...
Applications are now open for our 2026 International Medical Humanities PhD Summer School!
The Summer School is held jointly with the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics at @liu.se.
Apply by 16 February 2026 👉 tinyurl.com/Phd-summer-s...
The Summer School is held jointly with the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics at @liu.se.
Apply by 16 February 2026 👉 tinyurl.com/Phd-summer-s...
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Applications are now open for our 2026 International Medical Humanities PhD Summer School!
The Summer School is held jointly with the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics at @liu.se.
Apply by 16 February 2026 👉 tinyurl.com/Phd-summer-s...
The Summer School is held jointly with the Centre for Medical Humanities and Bioethics at @liu.se.
Apply by 16 February 2026 👉 tinyurl.com/Phd-summer-s...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Órla Meadhbh Murray introduces the Gut Feelings course: a space for people to narrate, explore, and challenge their experience of gut symptoms.
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/01/g...
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/01/g...
Gut Feelings: Challenging Crip Gut Stigma
Órla Meadhbh Murray introduces the Gut Feelings course: a space for people to narrate, explore, and challenge their experience of gut symptoms.
thepolyphony.org
December 1, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Órla Meadhbh Murray introduces the Gut Feelings course: a space for people to narrate, explore, and challenge their experience of gut symptoms.
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/01/g...
thepolyphony.org/2025/12/01/g...
A reminder that this fantastic event is taking place on Thursday and Friday next week - the programme has just been finalised and we are very excited for it! 🤩
📣 The Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research is pleased to present RETHINKING RIGOUR, a two-day symposium exploring creative-critical research in medical humanities.
📅 4-5 December 2025
Find out more about the event and book your free tickets 👇
📅 4-5 December 2025
Find out more about the event and book your free tickets 👇
Rethinking Rigour: Conditions of Creativity & Criticality in the Academy - Durham University
4 December 2025 - 4 December 2025
www.durham.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A reminder that this fantastic event is taking place on Thursday and Friday next week - the programme has just been finalised and we are very excited for it! 🤩
📣 Applications are open for our 2026-27 Medical Humanities in Practice Research Fellowship scheme! The scheme supports professionals and researchers from health or voluntary and community sectors to develop research within the medical humanities.
Apply by 30 Jan:
Apply by 30 Jan:
Practice Research Fellowship Scheme
Announcing our Medical Humanities In Practice Research Fellowship Scheme
medhumsplatform.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:00 AM
📣 Applications are open for our 2026-27 Medical Humanities in Practice Research Fellowship scheme! The scheme supports professionals and researchers from health or voluntary and community sectors to develop research within the medical humanities.
Apply by 30 Jan:
Apply by 30 Jan:
Our partners at the National Poetry Centre and the South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Teaching Trust are seeking contributions to the Hope Collective 2.0 – exploring how, when and in what format poetry could support connection 🫶
Submissions close 11 December 👇 www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Submissions close 11 December 👇 www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Hope Collective - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Our partners at the National Poetry Centre and the South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Teaching Trust are seeking contributions to the Hope Collective 2.0 – exploring how, when and in what format poetry could support connection 🫶
Submissions close 11 December 👇 www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Submissions close 11 December 👇 www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
“Am I Queer Enough?” @davidwoodhead.bsky.social reflects on visibility, ethics, and contradictions as a a middle-aged gay man in recovery and a mental health researcher.
Read more in the journal from @durhamimh.bsky.social 👇
thepolyphony.org/2025/11/24/am-i-queer-enough/
Read more in the journal from @durhamimh.bsky.social 👇
thepolyphony.org/2025/11/24/am-i-queer-enough/
Am I queer enough? When theory and lived experience collide
David Woodhead reflects on being gay and getting older.
thepolyphony.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“Am I Queer Enough?” @davidwoodhead.bsky.social reflects on visibility, ethics, and contradictions as a a middle-aged gay man in recovery and a mental health researcher.
Read more in the journal from @durhamimh.bsky.social 👇
thepolyphony.org/2025/11/24/am-i-queer-enough/
Read more in the journal from @durhamimh.bsky.social 👇
thepolyphony.org/2025/11/24/am-i-queer-enough/
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Why not start next week off with a discussion about the future critically engaged directions for #TouretteSyndrome #research? The event features the wonderful Rena Zito, Danni Phoenix-Kane, Dan Whittaker and Diana Beljaars (and your's truly!)
@durhamimh.bsky.social
www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...
@durhamimh.bsky.social
www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...
Towards Tourettic Studies: The Future of Tourette Syndrome Research - Durham University
www.dur.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Why not start next week off with a discussion about the future critically engaged directions for #TouretteSyndrome #research? The event features the wonderful Rena Zito, Danni Phoenix-Kane, Dan Whittaker and Diana Beljaars (and your's truly!)
@durhamimh.bsky.social
www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...
@durhamimh.bsky.social
www.dur.ac.uk/research/ins...
Join us on Monday for this online symposium 'Towards Tourettic Studies' 👇
📅 Join us on Monday 24 November for an online interdisciplinary symposium on Tourette Syndrome, imagining a future of Tourettic Studies that is looking beyond the syndrome, featuring Bridging Fellow @danielpjones.bsky.social.
Find out more & register here 👇
medhumsplatform.org/event/toward...
Find out more & register here 👇
medhumsplatform.org/event/toward...
November 19, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Join us on Monday for this online symposium 'Towards Tourettic Studies' 👇
2025 may be winding down but our events calendar is not! 📆
From reading groups to seminars, online talks to in-person conversations, there is plenty going on at the IMH throughout the rest of November and December.
Read our latest newsletter to find out more 👇
mailchi.mp/e9a1d07e9700...
From reading groups to seminars, online talks to in-person conversations, there is plenty going on at the IMH throughout the rest of November and December.
Read our latest newsletter to find out more 👇
mailchi.mp/e9a1d07e9700...
IMH Newsletter November 2025 (Events)
Upcoming events from the Institute for Medical Humanities at Durham University.
mailchi.mp
November 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
2025 may be winding down but our events calendar is not! 📆
From reading groups to seminars, online talks to in-person conversations, there is plenty going on at the IMH throughout the rest of November and December.
Read our latest newsletter to find out more 👇
mailchi.mp/e9a1d07e9700...
From reading groups to seminars, online talks to in-person conversations, there is plenty going on at the IMH throughout the rest of November and December.
Read our latest newsletter to find out more 👇
mailchi.mp/e9a1d07e9700...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Not long left to apply to be an editor at the Polyphony!!
November 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Not long left to apply to be an editor at the Polyphony!!
Delighted to announce the appointment of a new IMH Co-Director Katrin Wehling-Giorgi. We look forward to working with you, Katrin!
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
New IMH Co-Director - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
November 14, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Delighted to announce the appointment of a new IMH Co-Director Katrin Wehling-Giorgi. We look forward to working with you, Katrin!
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...
Reposted by Durham Institute for Medical Humanities
Great to see Élaina's expertise along with our @the-polyphony.bsky.social piece 'Being a masking crip killjoy' making an appearance here! 🤩
What's this? I got cited in @theskinnymag.bsky.social? @danielpjones.bsky.social People of the media, hmu for my masking and cross-movement solidarity tips. 😎 www.theskinny.co.uk/intersection...
Mask Up: Community care and wearing masks in 2025 – The Skinny
Masks aren’t just for lockdowns. One writer explores how mask wearing – and other measures to reduce COVID transmissions – can help us look after one another.
www.theskinny.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Great to see Élaina's expertise along with our @the-polyphony.bsky.social piece 'Being a masking crip killjoy' making an appearance here! 🤩