Dr Denitza Williams

(she/her)

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

I have an established national and growing international reputation within the academic filed of healthcare services research, specifically in women’s health, healthcare communication and public involvement. I have 35+ research publications and have secured over £21 million in grant funding as co-applicant/lead applicant within the field of women's health, healthcare communication and public involvement over the past 5 years. Specific research focusing on Human Papillomavirus self-sampling, pre-conception decision making in women with long-term conditions, person-centred communication and meaningful public involvement.

International positions of responsibility: I hold/have held international positions of responsibility including the following: Scientific committee, ISDM conference. National Programme Manager for Wales OECD Patient-reported Indicator Survey (PaRIS) programme at NHS Wales. Consortium for AI in Healthcare founding member

National positions of responsibility:

Current:

Academic Lead Public Involvement Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, 

Thematic Lead Early Onset and Lifelong Conditions, Women's Health Research Wales.

Behavioural Science Lead for Wales: YouChoose.

Previous:

Primary work package lead, Wales COVID Evidence Centre.

National Programme Manager, OECD PaRIS.

NCRI/CRN SPED inequalities group co-lead 

National expert academic advisor to Public Health Wales, Improving Cervical Screening Coverage in Wales Group & NCRI SPED Proposal Committee, NCRI Early detection committee member.

Conferences: Present and organise international (ESHRE, ISDM, EACH, ISBM) and national conferences (BRS, SAPC, DHP), workshops (PRIME, participatory qualitative methods), developed symposia (Division of Health Psychology, Society of Academic Primary Care), organised stakeholder events with public, healthcare professionals, academic and third sector representatives. Invited speaker: NCRI Gynae board, European Society of Human Reproduction, Department of Health, Health and Care Research Wales, Public Health Wales, Royal Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, International Shared Decision Making Society.

Teaching

·       I use innovative research-led teaching utilising my expertise in women’s health and research methods through various synchronus and asynchronus teaching. I co-lead Evidence-Based Medicine Module for Year 3 Medical Students (circa 300 students per year), and research methods modules at BSc and Masters Level. I am responsible for curriculum design, content and assessment of these modules as well as the development of synchronous and asynchronous materials.

I led the development and delivery of teaching for the Masters in Genetic Counselling Course in Cardiff University (Health Psychology Theory) and have led the development and delivery of the international Masters in Pain module focusing on healthcare communication and well-being in during pre-conception, pregnancy and parenting in women with painful long-term conditions.

I have been actively involved in the development of new research methods teaching for intercalated BSc Medical students, including quantitative and qualitative critical appraisal.

I examine internally (Dissertations: BSc, MSc Genetic Counselling, Masters of Public Health) and nationally, reflecting my national expertise in women’s health: doctorate examinations for Queen Mary University London (10/2025),London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (12/2025). 

I host medical students on placements (via The Evidence Centre) which provide opportunities to participate in research activities and engagement with key stakeholders including public members. I support students to deliver successful dissertations across programmes (BSc Intercalated, MSc Genetic Counselling, Masters in Public Health) and to secure conference abstract and journal publications. I also deliver outreach activities to support wider access to higher education.

I represent C21 at the Division of Population Medicine Educational Committee.

Biography

Career overview

2021- Current  Cardiff University, Division of Population Medicine, Lecturer. Responsible for leading research in women's health, person-centred care and public involvement and delivering teaching on the C21 medical programme.Supervison of BSc, MSc and PhD students.

2020-2022 Cardiff Metropolitan University, Research Fellow in Health Psychology. Responsible for delivering the CF:PROSPER work package 2.Qualitative lead for a large Covid-19 mixed-methods study.

2020-2021 Cardiff Metropolitan University, Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing. Module lead, MSc and BSc teaching and assessment focusing on health, evidence based medicine, qualitative research methods. Personal tuition and supervision at BSc, MSc & PhD level.

2017-2020 Cardiff University, Research Associate.  Capacity building in patient centered care in women’s health, qualitative focus.

2016-2017 Cardiff University, Project Manager. STAR study- Starting a family when you have an Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease.

2015-2016 Cardiff University, Research Associate. Shared decision making in breast cancer and renal disease.

Supervisions

I currently supervise PhD student Zoe Abbott.  Thesis focuses on co-production of pre-conception health for women with inflammatory arthritis (funding Health and Care Research Wales, Lead Supervisor)

Additionally, I also supervise Masters of Public Health Students, Masters of Genetic Counselling students as well as undergraduate medical students.

I mentor eight medical students as well as colleagues.

Current supervision

ZoË Abbott