Cynthia is a Professor of Health Economics, and is the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) lead for SAINTS.
She has a track record of more than twenty years in health economics and outcomes research. Her rich research portfolio focuses on the development and evaluation of medical devices.
Cynthia is a member of the Department of Health Sciences and has been at the University of York since 1998.
What is your role in SAINTS, and what does it involve?
I provide academic leadership in health economics and health sciences for the SAINTS CDT. I am also responsible for developing and overseeing the practical implementation of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy for SAINTS, ensuring that EDI principles inform and guide all CDT activity.
Tell us about your research interests. What do you find most interesting or enjoyable about your work?
My research interests focus on Health Technology Assessment. I enjoy learning about challenges in healthcare and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to apply – or extend – existing mixed research methods to address these challenges.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
I really enjoyed my time as an independent member of the Medical Technologies Advisory Committee at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England.
What’s next on the research horizon for you?
I will continue to pursue my agenda of research in Evaluation of Medical Devices, including software as a medical device.
Can you share some interesting work that you read about recently?
My team and I are working on an early health technology assessment of GP video group consultations. It has been enlightening to learn about the perceived opportunities and challenges from different stakeholders (e.g., healthcare providers, patients, administrators, etc.) associated with this innovative model of healthcare provision.
What are your thoughts on the future of AI?
AI is associated with immense promise. At the same time, humanity needs to reflect on how it would like to make use of this resource. This is vital to ensure that all stakeholders in the digital ecosystem gain awareness of what safe and responsible use of AI may look like.
What one piece of advice do you have for SAINTS postgraduate researchers?
Be curious, civil and collaborative. Work hard, but don’t forget to enjoy it and look after yourself!