Benjamin Saunders PhD

Dr Saunders is a social scientist from a medical sociology background, who has a particular interest in improving care and self-management for people with long-term health conditions, as well as in advancements in the use of qualitative research methods. Ben is currently carrying out research in the fields of young people's mental health, musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)/ stoma care. Ben joined the Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences in June 2014, having previously worked as a researcher in the Department of Sociology at the University of York, as part of the interdisciplinary York-Cardiff Coma and Disorders of Consciousness Research Centre. Here he worked on projects focusing on serious brain injury and end-of-life decision making. Before this, Ben completed his PhD at Cardiff University in 2012, in which he explored young adults' experiences of living with long-term conditions, particularly focusing on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Type 1 diabetes.