NEWS:Julie Wray receives award to complete doctorate
(2008-08-01)
Julie Wray receives award to complete doctorate
We are pleased to announce the award of the 2008 Research Fellowship to midwife Julie Wray, who is pursuing her PhD studies at the Salford Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Collaborative Research, University of Salford. The Fellowship will provide funding for the final phase of the doctorate, to be submitted in 2009.
Julie’s research focuses on what she terms ‘birth recovery’ – the period in which new mothers receive postnatal care - and the following months. Julie writes that, ‘This time after birth is profound and overwhelming as women embark upon their adjustment to mothering … around 23% of women have a surgical birth and so will be regarded as ‘post-operative’ after birth. In many ways women are rehabilitating, in that it involves a continuous and multi-faceted process requiring a range of skills and expertise’.
The overarching aim of the study is to strengthen the evidence base for enhancing postnatal services through increased understanding of care from a cultural and health viewpoint. It will undertake:
* Critically to explore experiences of mothers regarding their health and well being after birth
* To identify what birth recovery outcomes matter to women
* To conduct a detailed investigation within one case study area, with particular emphasis upon the provision, nature and context of postnatal care/birth recovery.
A high quality of applications were received from midwives when the Fellowship was advertised, and the assessors – including the IMT’s midwife trustees and two external reviewers – all expressed commendation of the shortlisted applicants. Chair of the trustees Professor Billie Hunter said she was delighted to see how many midwives were pursuing research at this significant level and welcomed the choice of Julie Wray’s topic and approach.
Julie commented, ‘Professionally, being supported to complete the PhD on a topic and methodology that has been marginalised at times would contribute towards “added value” and meaning to the study and to midwifery. I feel that the voices of these women and their stories could act as a strong platform to improve postnatal care in the future … Personally, this is such a wonderful opportunity and I am so proud to be selected for the 2008 award’.
The new Research Fellow, along with the winners of the Trust’s annual awards, will receive a certificate from the Trust patron, Baroness Cumberlege, at a reception at the House of Lords in November 2008.
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Finalist in British Female Inventor of the Year April 2003
Finalist in National Business Awards
Entrepreneur Category 2003
A BFIY's Top 10 Woman Inventor and Innovator 2005
Finalist in 2005 E-Commerce ICT Innovators Awards- Health Category (DTI Interforum)
Winner of 2006 Exceptional Exporter Award (UKTI, Chamberlink, Salford City Council)
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