Psychology, Health and Medicine Annual Conference 2025
- Health and wellbeing
We are delighted to announce the 21st Annual Psychology, Health and Medicine Conference. This conference is hosted by the Northern Irish Branch of the Division of Health Psychology of the British Psychological Society (DHP NI), in association with the Division of Health Psychology of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI DHP).
The 2025 conference will be held at Queen's University Belfast at Riddel Hall, on Tuesday 27 May 2025.
The theme of this year's conference is Health Psychology: Bridging the Gap to Wellbeing and includes significant public involvement in the organisation and delivery of the event.
The conference is a key annual event for people working in the areas of psychology, health and medicine in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as further afield. The aim of the conference is to promote health psychology and to provide a forum for sharing high-quality research, education/policy and practice on psychology and health. The conference attracts delegates from psychology, health, and many related fields, fostering opportunities to build and strengthen professional networks.
This is the first time the conference has been held in Northern Ireland in over a decade, and we look forward to welcoming you all to Belfast. We have two excellent keynote speakers Professor Martin Dempster (Queen's University Belfast) and Professor Susan Michie (University College London)- and welcome abstract submissions by 27th February 2025 to build what we know will be a fantastic programme. In addition, there will be an 'In conversation with...' lunchtime session focused on public involvement in health research. This will involve public contributors, Fiona Quigley and Ruth Kyle, hosted by Professor Molly Byrne (University of Galway).
With our conference theme, Health Psychology: Bridging the Gap to Wellbeing, we are committed to fostering meaningful connections between research, practice, and communities. To support this, we are offering up to five free places for patients and public representatives who wish to attend and share their valuable insights and lived experiences. We value the time and expertise patients and public representatives bring to these discussions.
Applications deadline - 31 March
We look forward to seeing you all in May 2025.
Please read the submission tab for more information on presentation methods, submission guidelines and how to submit.
Key submission dates
- 6 January 2025: Event Launch and submissions open
- 27 February 2025: Deadline for all submissions
- 19 March 2025: Notification of outcome
- 21 March 2025: First programme released
- 14 April 2025: Early Bird registration deadline
- 29 April 2025: Registration by invoice deadline
- 14 May 2025: Registration deadline
Authors are strongly advised to register on the online submission system and begin preparing their submissions well in advance of the deadlines.
How to submit
Please ensure you read the Submission Guidelines before submitting.
Submissions must be made via the online application portal.
Please note: you will need to create an account if this is your first time submitting.
The registration fee includes lunch, refreshments and access to all content.
Subject to availability (due to limited numbers) the Early Bird Rate will close on Monday 14 April at 23:59.
Registration deadline: 14 May 2025
All rates listed are inclusive of VAT at 20%, and exclusive of booking fee.
| Delegate category | Early rate | Standard rate |
| BPS or PSI member | £96 | £106 |
| Non-member | £120 | £130 |
| Student | £52 | £62 |
Please note: when booking online, you are leaving the BPS website and will be directed to Oxford Abstracts.
Conference booking is provided by Oxford Abstracts on behalf of the BPS. Both the BPS and Oxford Abstracts terms and conditions and privacy policies will apply.
Professor Martin Dempster
Title: Psychology in Health and Medicine. Deliberations with an Irish Bias
The 21st Psychology, Health and Medicine conference is an appropriate time to reflect on the contribution of psychology to health and medicine. Of course, this is a contribution that extends too long before the birth of this conference, but this presentation will highlight some of the relatively recent ways that psychology has informed healthcare, particularly in Ireland, with examples provided from my own research.
This will include psychological research in the area of health promotion (eg. behavioural management of COVID) and research informing the management of the psychological consequences of physical illness (eg. psychological outcomes for people with oesophageal cancer).
Beyond this, psychologists have also contributed to our understanding of healthcare professionals' burnout in the workplace and to the methodological approaches in healthcare research. A substantial portion of the presentation will be devoted to the concepts of illness perceptions and individualised quality of life and the research gaps in these areas.
Professor Susan Michie
Title: Advancing health psychology through evidence and theory integration
Improving population health depends on behaviour: to prevent disease, to manage short-term crises and long-term conditions, and to deliver high-quality, evidence-based healthcare. More than 100 evaluations of behavioural interventions are published each week; however, they are reported very variably, sometimes vaguely or ambiguously and often missing key information. This holds back the potential of health psychology to advance its science and apply it to improving health. Advancing knowledge in health psychology can be hugely accelerated by more efficient organisation, accumulation, sharing and integration of knowledge.
This talk will introduce a methodology used across science but only recently used in psychology: representing knowledge using 'ontologies'. These enable reporting of evidence that is precise enough for computers to read, opening up possibilities for using Artificial Intelligence for analysing our increasingly complex data. Theories are useful in summarising what we know. However, our field is held back by a plethora of theories, many overlapping, underspecified and partial. This means that they are not as useful to health and medical research as they could and should be. This talk will report on a project aiming to make theories more useful and usable across disciplines by integrating them using an ontological approach and Machine Learning.
Lunchtime session: 'In conversation with....'
There will also be an 'In conversation with...' lunchtime session focused on public involvement in health research. This will involve public contributors who are experts by experience, Fiona Quigley and Ruth Kyle, hosted by Professor Molly Byrne (University of Galway). This will take the format of an informal conversation and there will be an opportunity to submit questions relating to public involvement in advance (more details will follow).
The Psychology, Health and Medicine Conference will take place at Riddel Hall.
Riddel Hall, Queen's University Belfast
185 Stranmillis Road
Belfast
BT9 5EE
Parking
There is no capacity to reserve, book or pay for parking at this venue. Public car parking in the area is limited and offered on a first come first serve basis. Use of public transport is encouraged where possible to avoid disappointment.
Train
The nearest train station is Botanic Train Station located a 25-minute walk from Riddle Hall. Upon exiting the station, you can turn left and proceed along Botanic Avenue. As you reach the Union Theological College on the left, turn right along University Square. Turning left along University Road with the Lanyon building on the left-hand side, continue left along Stranmillis Road until you reach the main gate of Riddel Hall on the right-hand side. Alternatively, you can take a route through the Botanic Gardens to reach Stranmillis Road.
Bus
Riddel Hall is located on Metro bus routes 8a & 8d. Both depart from Belfast, Howard Street. For more information and to plan your journey please visit Translink journey planner.
Bike
Belfast bikes for hire are located around the city. The nearest docking station is located at the Stranmillis roundabout. Bike shelters are available at Riddel Hall.
Taxi
Value Cabs is a local Belfast taxi company that enables you to prebook travel. Please visit their website for more details.
Further travel information from the venue can be found here.
Malone Lodge Hotel
Address: 60 Eglantine Avenue, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6DY
Telephone: +44 28 9038 8000
Rating: 4*
How to book: delegates to use the booking code 72088 to avail the discounted rate at the time of booking.
Rates:
Single Occupancy (inclusive of service & VAT)
- £136
- £156 (BB Rate - 3 course)
Double Occupancy (inclusive of service & VAT)
- £142.50
- £198.50 (BB Rate - 3 course)
Fitzwilliam Hotel
Address: 1-3 Great Victoria St, Belfast, BT2 7BQ
Telephone: +44 28 9044 2080
Rating: 5*
How to book: call reservations on +44(0)28 9044 2080 or email [email protected] to book. Quote the booking ID 844897 to avail of the preferential rate.
Rates:
Single Occupancy (inclusive of service & VAT)
- £230 (BB Rate including full Irish breakfast)
Double Occupancy (inclusive of service & VAT)
- £245 (BB Rate including full Irish breakfast)
Please note, if booking one of the hotels listed here remember to give the booking discount code to avail of the preferential conference rates.
Other hotels located in Belfast are available via usual internet search engines. Delegates may wish to check these for alternative accommodation options
5km self-guided run
This scenic run goes through the botanic gardens and along the embankment. The botanic garden gates open at 7.30am.
Dr Lisa Graham-Wisener (Chair of PHM Committee)
Is a Reader in Health Psychology in the School of Psychology at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), and an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Medicine at Cardiff University. She is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. Her research interests are in psycho-oncology and palliative and end-of-life care. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Authority and teaches health psychology largely at the postgraduate level at QUB. Lisa is currently a committee member of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Division of Health Psychology.
Dr Laura McGowan (Co-Chair of PHM Committee)
Laura is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine and Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University Belfast. Her research focuses on theory-based behavior change interventions to improve diet and nutrition status, with a focus on prevention and management of obesity, in a variety of population groups. She has a particular interest in the role of novel behaviour-change methods such as habit formation and in the area of weight-based stigma. Laura's research explores behaviour change across the life course, including in preconception, pregnancy and ageing populations. Laura is currently a committee member of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Division of Health Psychology (DHPNI), and previous Chair of DHPNI.
Dr Marian McLaughlin
Marian is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at Ulster University. She is a Charted Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She is also Co-Chair of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Division of Health Psychology and sits on several BPS committees. Her research focuses mainly on child and adolescent health and well-being, in particular, theoretical applications for the design and evaluation of behaviour change interventions.
Dr Tracy McCrossan
Dr Tracy McCrossan is an HCPC-registered Health Psychologist and Chartered Psychologist working in the Western Health & Social Care Trust. Tracy is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and is Co-Chair of the Division of Health Psychology. Her current work is with adults on a one-to-one or group basis, in a range of medical specialities such as Pain Management, Long Term Conditions, Respiratory, Diabetes, Oncology, and Renal.
Dr Lesley-Anne Henry
Dr Lesley-Anne Henry is a Chartered Psychologist and Research Associate within the School of Medicine at Ulster University. Her main research interests are broadly in the area of maternal health during pregnancy and child health, development and well-being. To date, her research has focused on maternal folic acid use during pregnancy and the child's psychosocial development. Currently, she is exploring the potential impact of periconceptional and antenatal environmental factors on the physical health, neurodevelopment and academic achievement of children born with congenital heart disease. This research will inform the clinical care packages received by children born with this condition to support their health and development from infancy to adolescence and also provide evidence to inform preconceptional and antenatal advice to women.
Dr AnneMarie McStocker
Head of Staff Wellbeing and Occupational Health at Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Ann Marie is a trainee Health Psychologist, studying for a Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University. Her research interests include Critical Incident Stress Management, moral distress, compassionate-focused approaches to support staff health and wellbeing, and using behavioural insights to promote workplace physical, psychological, and sexual safety. With a background in Public Health and Community Development, Ann Marie's MSc research project focused on health literacy and health inequalities.
Dr Julie Doherty
Julie is a lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University and a Chartered Psychologist. Her research has focused on promoting communication and shared decision-making on goals of care and service delivery. She is also interested in interventions that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting conditions and their carers. Recently, she has been involved in the development of educational resources to support future care planning conversations and interventions that aim to improve the care and quality of life for those with advanced dementia.
Dr Liz Simpson
Dr Liz Simpson is a registered Health Psychologist, Chartered Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at Ulster University. Her research has focused on healthy cognitive ageing, looking at lifestyle factors that may impact on this such as dietary intake and physical activity. She is interested in biological mechanisms and their interplay with psychological and social factors such as immune function and cognition, HRT use and psychological well-being during the menopausal transition.
More recently focusing on several theory-informed interventions, to promote health and well-being through lifestyle and behaviour change. Employing theoretical frameworks to map intervention components, design, and evaluation to achieve better health outcomes, including an educational resource to prevent the uptake of e-cigarettes in young people, the Walk with Me study to promote walking in sedentary older adults and promotion of the MIND diet in midlife adults.
Dr Fiona Quigley
Fiona has a lived experience of obesity and an eating disorder and has just recently completed her PhD in weight-related health communication and technology-based training for healthcare professionals. Her research focuses on health communication in weight-related discourse and topic areas contributing to the public discourse on overweight and obesity, such as weight stigma and public health communication.
She is currently a post-doctoral researcher in the School of Communication and Media, Ulster University, where she is working on a range of projects including nutrition communication for children and adolescents and NHS complaints handling. Fiona also specialises in patient advocacy for improved services in Northern Ireland for both obesity and eating disorder support.
Oteri Kueberuwa
Oteri is a PhD Researcher in the School of Health & Life Sciences at Ulster University. Her research is focused on the behavioural determinants of healthy eating and physical activity in people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Oteri has over 15 years experience working in various policy, commissioning and programme management roles for organisations including the NHS, National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse, the Department for Education & Health Inspectorate Wales.
Kimberly Ogun
Scientific Committee
Dr Lisa Graham-Wisener, Queen's University Belfast
Dr Laura McGowan, Queen's University Belfast
Dr Tracey McCrossan, Western Health and Social Care Trust
Dr Julie Doherty, Queen's University Belfast
Dr Liz Simpson, Ulster University
Dr Marian McLaughlin, Ulster University
Dr AnnMarie McStocker, NI Ambulance Service
Oteri Kueberuwa, Ulster University
Dr Niamh McGrath, Health Research Board
Dr Karen Matvienko-Sikar, University College Cork
Dr Lisa Mellon, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Eanna Kenny, University of Galway
Dr Laura Coffey, Maynooth University
Simon Dunne, Dublin City University
Dr Louise Foley, University of Limerick
Prof Catherine Darker, Trinity College Dublin
Dr Glen Jankowski, University College Dublin
Dr Eimear O'Conner- Open University
Want to speak to one of the team?
Contact us at [email protected].
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