Dr Sally SJ Brown

Profile

I am a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds, Faculty of Medicine and Health in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LHIS).

My areas of interest lie in public health, health promotion and the sociology of health. My focus is on inclusion, accessibility and equity. Specific interests include health inequalities, digital inclusion, social prescribing, disability, autism, aging and the intersection of health, movement and spirituality.

My PhD in Health Promotion at Leeds Beckett University explored access and inclusion in yoga for health. My recent publications include articles in the journals Perspectives in Public Health, 2024, Systematic Review, 2024 and Annual Review of the Sociology of Religion (2024). I am currently adapting my thesis for a book for Emerald Publishing

At University of Leeds I lead on qualitative patient data collection and Patient, Participation Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) data analysis for NIHR-funded research into health inequalities impacts of reducing overprescribing. In my previous postdoctoral role at Leeds Beckett University’s Centre for Health Promotion Research I worked on NIHR-funded realist participatory review of digital health and care services for disabled people and developing a theory of change for city digital inclusion programmes.

I am experienced in participatory research, co-production, realist review, critical-theory based analysis, service review, systematic review and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). I am a member of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and the BSA Medical Sociology group. I present regularly on my work at conference: the BSA Annual Conference 2025, Yoga Researchers Symposium, 2024 and Social Policy Association Conference, 2023.

I am a complementary health practitioner with a 200-hour RYT yoga teaching qualification working with disadvantaged and under-served populations. My professional background is in government and NHS health promotion, health data and digital services and in disability, health and leisure journalism, writing and editing. I have qualifications in marketing, copywriting and teaching.

I received a mid-life diagnosis of autism (Asperger’s) and identify as neurodivergent.

Responsibilities

• Qualitative research
• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement

Research interests

Public Health, Health Promotion, Sociology of Health. Equity, diversity and inclusion. Wellness, yoga, digital inclusion, older people.

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, Health Promotion, Leeds Beckett University
• Master of Arts, Religious Studies, York St John University
• Batchelor of Social Science, Sociology and Social Anthropology, Hull University

Professional memberships

• British Sociological Association
• Accessible Yoga Association