Professor Paul Newton BA (Hons), PG Cert HE, MSc, PhD

• Associate Head of Research and Knowledge, School of Health Sciences – Provides academic leadership for the School’s research and knowledge activities, supporting the development of research capacity, capability, culture and outputs.

• Programme Leader, PhD in Health Sciences – Leads the PhD programme within the School of Health Sciences, with responsibility for the academic oversight of doctoral provision and the experience and progression of postgraduate research students.

• Professor of Social Science Applied to Health and Illness – Undertakes and leads research relating to health, illness, public health, healthcare services and the healthcare workforce, alongside supporting the development of research activity across the School.

• Doctoral supervision – Supervises PhD researchers and supports the development of doctoral supervisors and the wider postgraduate research culture within the School and Faculty.

• Shortlisted for Supervisor of the Year in the National Postgraduate Awards

• Paul has been voted 'Supervisor of the Year' in the Student Led Teaching Awards three times (2017/2019/2022)

• Paul is also a member of the UK Council of Graduate Education and holds Recognised Supervisor Status

His research has applied sociological and social theoretical perspectives to a broad range of chronic and disabling conditions and healthcare contexts. He has published on pain, dementia, oral health, patient-centred care, and patient empowerment and self-management in Type 2 diabetes and other long-term conditions. More recently, his research has extended to understanding health and illness experiences and inequalities among minority ethnic and underserved communities, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller populations, London’s Bangladeshi communities and wider Muslim communities.

Professor Newton also has an established track record in health and social care workforce research. His work has encompassed medicine, dentistry, nursing, paramedicine and social work, as well as the auxiliary healthcare workforce and interprofessional practice. A consistent theme across this work is understanding the experiences, organisation and development of the workforce and the implications these have for professional practice, service delivery and patient care.

Methodologically, Professor Newton has particular expertise in qualitative research, while also leading and contributing to mixed-methods research and the evaluation of health services, interventions and consultations. He has extensive experience of developing externally funded research and evaluation proposals and of leading projects from conception and methodological design through to delivery, analysis and dissemination. His research is communicated to academic, professional and policy audiences through peer-reviewed publications, books and research reports, as well as invited presentations and contributions to national and international conferences, seminars and workshops.

• Kent County Council – Evaluation of Age Friendly Kent (2026). Co-Investigator

• Kent County Council – Evaluation of Kent Online Sexual Health Testing Service (2026). Principal Investigator

• Kent County Council – Evaluation of the Allen Carr Smoking Cessation Project (2024–2025). Principal Investigator

• Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust – Evaluation of Clinical Nurse Tutor (Practice Development) Project (2023). Principal Investigator

• Bowel & Cancer Research – Exploring Experiences of Inflammatory Bowel Disease amongst Black and Minority Ethnic Patients: Mixed-Method Scoping Study (2019–2020). Principal Investigator

• Health Education England – Developing and Delivering a Health and Wellbeing Programme for Pre-registration, Non-medical Healthcare Students at the University of Greenwich: A Mixed-Method PhD Study (2017–2020). Principal Applicant

• South London Hospices Education Collaborative – Evaluation of the ‘Rotational Post – End of Life Care, Cancer and Care of the Elderly’ Project (2017–2018). Principal Investigator

• Paula Carr Diabetes Trust – The Impact of East Kent Primary Care Diabetes Training on Participants’ Experiences (2016). Co-Investigator

• Nursing and Midwifery Council – The Progress and Outcomes of Black and Minority Ethnic Nurses through the NMC Fitness to Practise Process (2016). Co-Investigator

• Health Education North, Central and East London – Evaluation of the Mental Health Worker Programme (2015). Co-Investigator

• Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex – The Identification and Management of Oral Pain and Discomfort in People Living with Dementia: A Mixed-Method Sequential-Explanatory Study (2014–2015). Principal Investigator

• Health Education England – Educators’ and Trainees’ Experiences of Postgraduate Medical Education in Two Regions (2014–2015). Principal Investigator

• NHS Kent and Medway – Analysis of a Consultation on Acute Mental Health Crisis Care in Kent (2013). Principal Investigator

• The South East London Health Innovation and Education Cluster – Improving the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Organisations Providing Assessment and Intervention to People with a Diagnosis of Dementia (2012–2013). Principal Investigator

• NHS London – Newly Qualified Nurses’ Readiness for Work (2012–2013). Principal Investigator

• East and Coastal Kent Foundation Trust – East Kent Maternity Services Review (2012). Co-Investigator