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Liz Forty   BA (Joint Hons), MSc, PhD, SFHEA

Dr Liz Forty

(she/her)

BA (Joint Hons), MSc, PhD, SFHEA

Director My Medic Learning Development Unit; Reader in Medical Education

School of Medicine

Email
FortyL@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 29206 88416
Campuses
Neuadd Meirionnydd, Floor 5, Room 519C, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS
Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Overview

I am Director of My Medic Learning Development Unit and Lead on UG student Health and Wellbeing within the School of Medicine. 

https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/support-for-medicine-students

I am a Chartered Psychologist, Senior Fellow of Advance HE, member of the Medical Schools Council Welfare Group, and trustee of the Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry (AUTP). 

My research interests include Student Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Equality and Diversity Training in Healthcare Professions.

I am Cardiff University's Co-Lead for Nurture-U, a national research project led by the University of Exeter, working to find better ways to support university students with their wellbeing and mental health. https://www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk/ We are partnered with the U-Flourish project based at Queen's University, Canada. 

 

 

Publication

2024

2023

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2019

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2013

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2011

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2008

2006

Articles

Book sections

Thesis

Research

My research focuses on student mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on students in the healthcare professions, as well as Equality and Diversity training within healthcare. 

I am a Co-investigator for Nurture-U, a national research project that is finding better ways to support university students with their wellbeing and mental health. We are partnered with the U-Flourish project based at Queen's University, Canada. 

I was one of the co-founders of the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN) , a group of researchers, clinicians and research participants in the UK involved in investigating the underlying causes of bipolar disorder. So far more than 7500 participants have been recruited to BDRN, which is one the largest sample of individuals with bipolar disorder in the world.

I was also a Principle Investigator for the National Centre for Mental Health, a research centre established to learn more about the causes of mental  problems, with the aim of developing better diagnosis, treatment and support for the future.

 

Teaching

Director My Medic Learning Development Unit 

I lead on Health and Wellbeing Support for Undergraduate Students in the School of Medicine, and also lead on UG Health and Wellbeing curricula content within the School.

https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/health-and-wellbeing/support-for-medicine-students 

 

MBBCh Vertical Theme Lead [Understanding People] encompassing psychology, sociology, equality and diversity, mental health and wellbeing, and ethics and law.

 

Biography

Prior to my appointment as Lecturer in Psychological Medicine at Cardiff University in 2013 [promoted to Senior Lecturer 2018, Reader 2023], I worked as a post doctoral researcher within the Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University. I completed an MSc in Medical Education in 2016 and I completed my PhD in psychological medicine at Cardiff in 2009. My thesis focused on dissecting the clinical phenotype of bipolar and unipolar affective disorders. Prior to starting my PhD studies in Cardiff, I worked as a research associate at the University of Birmingham on a large scale family genetic study of unipolar depression. Prior to this I worked in the NHS as a healthcare assistant on a mental health ward in Warwickshire. 

Career Overview

  • 2023: Reader in Medical Education, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
  • 2022: Trustee AUTP (Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry)
  • 2022: Mind Health for Medical Students Charity Advisor
  • 2021: Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society
  • 2019: Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy
  • 2018: Senior Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
  • 2016: MSc in Medical Education (Merit)
  • 2016: Member of the Higher Education Academy
  • 2015: Member of the Academy of Medical Educators
  • 2014: Member of AUTP (Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry)
  • 2013-present: Lecturer in Psychological Medicine, Cardiff University, School of Medicine.
  • 2008-2013: Post-Doctoral Researcher, Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences.
  • 2005-2009: PhD Student, Cardiff University, School of Medince, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences.
  • 2005: Diploma in Research Methods (Distinction)
  • 2002-2005: Research Associate, University of Birmingham, Department of Psychiatry.
  • 2001: BA Psychology and Sociology (Joint Hons)

Honours and awards

  • Mental Health and Wellbeing Wales Bronze Award, Outstanding Impact in Education 2023
  • Medic Star Award for contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity 2019
  • BMA/BMJ Innovations in Teaching Award 2016
  • Cardiff University School of Medicine Innovations in Teaching Award 2015
  • NARSAD Young Investigator Award 2011
  • Eli Lily International Young Investigators Fellowship in Bipolar Disorder 2009

Professional memberships

  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Member of the MSCs Welfare Leads Group
  • Member of the Academy of Medical Educators
  • Trustee of the Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry

Supervisions

I supervise intercalated BSc Medical Education and Psychological Medicine student dissertations, as well as MSc in psychiatry dissertations.

I have supervised two PhD students (Sarah Knott 2017; Bipolar Disorder, Epilepsy and Migraine: Katie Lewis 2018; Bipolar Disorder and Sleep) and an MPhil student (Naomi Marfell 2019; Student mental health and wellbeing) to completion.

I am currently co-supervising PhD student Ruby Long (Resilience in Dental Students).

Engagement

I work with the National Centre for Mental Health and third sector charities and organisations to support the involvement of people with personal or family experience of mental illness in the development and delivery of the mental health components of the undergraduate medicine programme (MBBCh).

I am also working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales in relation to recruitment and retention in Psychiatry, and the importance of promoting psychiatry within the undergraduate student population.

I was Director of the Annual Cardiff University Undergraduate Winter School in Psychiatry (2014-2020)

I am one of the trustees of the Association of University Teachers in Psychiatry https://www.autp.org/ and Advisor to Mind Health for Medical Students Charity https://www.mindhealthuk.org/