• Clinical Communication
• Cognitive Neuropsychology
• Behavioural Change

Ellen is a British Psychological Society Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AdvanceHE). She holds membership with the UK Council for Clinical Communication in Undergraduate Education (UKCCC), the Behavioural and Social Sciences Teaching in Medicine group (BeSST), and the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Ellen has a BSc Psychology with first-class hons from Birkbeck University of London and an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience with distinction and Ph.D in Psychology from the University of East Anglia. 

Ellen’s Ph.D examined the Cognitive and Neuroimaging Markers of Vascular Cognitive Impairment (VCI). Which involved working with patient and pre-clinical groups examining performance in cognitive and Virtual Reality tasks of spatial navigation and explored MRI and EEG correlates. Evidencing the relationship between our cardiovascular health and brain function (awarded 2022). For a full list of related works see Google Scholar

Ellen has worked with the NHS and charity sector to improve the lives of people affected by cognitive impairment and mental health issues, notably the Alzheimer’s Society, Mind and East London Foundation Trust. Prior to academia, she held leadership positions in the financial industry, focusing on improving the customer experience and policy change - experiences she uses to inform her practice. For further details see Ellen Lowry - LinkedIn

Ellen’s work is now focused on the doctor-patient relationship and how psychology can inform clinical practice and Medical Education. Her current work primarily focuses on Shared Decision Making and building patient perspective taking into doctor-patient consultations to improve health outcomes. As well as developing clinical communication skills to support people in severe psychological distress.

Current Projects

• Supervisor to Masters in Med Ed student exploring Virtual Reality to improve patient persepctive taking in dementia
• Evaulating the implementation of new tools for Shared Decision-Making in Medical Education 

• Year 3 Lead: Consultaion Skills 
• 4C Module Lead: Consultation Skills
• Module Lead: Psychosocial Aspects of Health  (Gateway to Medicine)
• Tutor Development Lead: Consultation Skills

As the first member of her family to go to university, Ellen is passionate about widdening partcipation to make education accessible for everyone regardless of their background. Ellen takes great pleasure and fulfilment from teaching on the MBBS Gateway year course and the Preparing for Medicine programme.

Specialist areas of teaching;

Consultation Skills; Shared Decision Making, Motivational Interviewing and Communication Skills for patients in Psychological Distress.

Psychology; Psychology of Behaviour Change, Neuropsychology of Dementia and Addiction.

• Tutor Development Lead – train the trainer CPD for clinicians and academics interested in teaching Clinical Communication
• Expert facilitator of Calgary Cambridge Guide teaching method of Clinical Communcation skills
• MB BS Committee Member
• Gateway in Medicine Committee Member
• Consultation Skills Committee Member
• Athena Swan Committee Member
• Lifespan Health Committee Member
• Curriculum Design & Delivery Committee Member
• Academic Adviser
• Admissions Interviewer
• Year 3 & 4C OSCE station blueprinting
• OSCE Assessor
• Reflective Practice Interviews Assessor, Year 5 MB BS
• Evidence Based Medicine Presentations Assessor, Year 4 MB BS
• Public Health Presentations Assessor, Gateway to Medicine