Dr Sarah Griffiths

I am a Research Fellow on an NIHR funded study (D-PACT), developing and evaluating a Dementia Support Worker intervention based in primary care.

My role involves using realist informed approaches and qualitative methodologies to build programme theory, develop a support worker intervention and evaluate the intervention in practice.

I joined the Community and Primary Care Research Group in January 2019. Prior to this I was a senior lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy at Plymouth Marjon University for 14 years. I have over 28 years of experience as a speech and language therapist and began my career working with adult clients in acute and outpatient settings before moving into higher education. 

In 2013 I completed a PhD in Medical Studies with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry; a conversation analytic study of everyday conversation management in Parkinson's. I continue to be interested in the impact of communication difficulties on everyday and institutional interaction and have published in this area. 

D-PACT: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/primarycare/dementia-person-aligned-care-team

Blog: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/tag/dr-sarah-griffiths/

Twitter: @sgriffiths1966

DPACT twitter: @DementiaPACT

Qualifications

2014 - 2015 University of St Mark and St John: Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

2008 - 2013 Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth: PhD Medical Studies: 'Managing everyday participation in Parkinson’s disease: a conversation analytic study.    

2003 – 2005 University of Plymouth: MSc Psychological Research Methods

1987 – 1989 The City University, London: Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Communication Studies

1984 – 1987 Leicester University: BSc Degree in Psychology

Professional membership

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching interests

In my previous role as senior lecturer in BSc degree in Speech and Language Therapy, my teaching focused on Adult Acquired Communication Disorders, Evidence-based Practice and Psychology. Currently, alongside my research role, I supervise masters students from the University's dental programmes (ResM and MSc students completing dissertations).