Meet the Mid-Career Members of the Society: Dr Shelina Visram
Name:
Shelina Visram
Position:
Senior Lecturer in Public Health
Newcastle University
SSM member since:
2010
SSM committee roles:
Honorary Secretary (current)
Previously Chair of the ASM Local Organising Committee (2023-2022), MCR sub-committee co-chair, Membership secretary
Topics of interest:
Health inequalities, Marginalized groups, Place-based approaches
How did your career in social medicine/population health begin?
After graduating with a BA in Human Sciences from Oxford University, I returned home to North East England and began looking for work in any health-related field. I had particularly enjoyed a final-year module called Human Health & Disease and my goal was to work in public health practice. Instead, I gained employment as a research assistant at Northumbria University and, through the staff development programme, was able to study for a part-time Masters in Public Health. Although I did not achieve my original goal, I feel fortunate to have built an academic career that involves working closely with practitioners, policymakers and communities.
What is your research area and what excites you most about it?
I conduct qualitative research with people from vulnerable, marginalized and under-represented populations, in order to better understand their health-related needs and experiences. The thing that I find most exciting is giving a voice to people who are often excluded from conversations around health. I also like experimenting with participatory and creative methods, which can make research more accessible and enjoyable for all parties.
How has SSM influenced your career journey and what have you got out of being an SSM member?
SSM has had a massive impact on my career journey by providing invaluable opportunities for networking, both through the Annual Scientific Meeting and various roles on the main committee. I have met lots of lovely people through SSM, some of whom I now consider very good friends. I was also able to draw on my SSM networks in getting an independent reference to support my application for promotion from lecturer to senior lecturer in 2016 (thank you again Professor Simon Capewell!).
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in social medicine/population health?
I was going to go with ‘no person is an island’, because of the multi-disciplinary nature of public health and the importance of building connections early in your career. But ‘shy bairns get nowt’ is probably a more appropriate idiom; in non-Geordie speak, this means that shy people may not get what they want or deserve. As an introvert, I know it can often be difficult to speak up, especially early on in your career. But it is important to know your worth, advocate for yourself, and actively seek out opportunities rather than waiting for these to fall in your lap (although we should advocate for others and open up opportunities as we advance in our careers).
Tell us a (fun) fact about yourself that is unrelated to your career.
I have extra bones on the side of each foot that I suspect mean I am the next stage in human evolution (although it can make shoe shopping a pain).
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This blog is part of a series focusing on the Society’s mid-career and senior members. The series spotlights prominent and active members of SSM to inspire the wider community and highlight the value of membership by inviting members to reflect on their time in the Society.