Dr Farina Kokab

• FHEA, University of Birmingham, 2020 
• PhD, Applied Health Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, 2016
• MA, Social Research (Social Policy), University of Birmingham, 2012
• MSc, Health Psychology, Aston University, 2011
• BSc, Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2010

Farina completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Birmingham and went onto achieve an MSc in Health Psychology at Aston University as a professional training course. Both of these degrees are accredited by the British Psychological Society. She then went on to complete an MA in Social Research (Social Policy) at the University of Birmingham as part of her PhD, which involved investigating the role of social support in influencing health beliefs and lifestyle practices amongst tri-generational Pakistani migrants in the West Midlands, UK. 

Whilst completing her PhD Farina started work with the development and evaluation of Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) indicators for Diabetes Prevention at the University of Birmingham. Following this she worked with clinicians and academics on developing a range of projects with the CLAHRC Maternity team that can be applied to maternity services. She then worked on a mixed-methods project exploring mental health in junior doctors. Currently, Farina is part of the Shame and Medicine Project at the College of Social Sciences.

Farina has also contributed to wider research taking place at the University and internationally. She has been awarded Fellowship status by the Higher Education Academy for her contribution to teaching.

Medicine and Surgery MBChB 

• Integrated Problems-Clinical communications 
• Integrated Professional and Academic Practices (IPAS) 
• Health Improvement Evidence Review (HIER) advisor third year students 
• Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) Qualitative tutor third year students 

Public Health MPh/Diploma 

• Sociology and Social Policy 

Qualitative Research Methods

• Module Co-Lead

• Masters in Public Health Dissertations
• MSc in Clinical Primary and Community Care Dissertation
• PhD mentoring for students in IAHR

Farina is interested in supervising postgraduate and PhD research students on using qualitative methods to undertake their research. She is particularly interested in access to and experiences of health, prevention and lived experience of disease and illness.

PhD title

Understanding health beliefs and lifestyle practices in relation to social support in the Pakistani community, West Midlands, UK

Farina’s PhD research included a qualitative synthesis (adapted meta-ethnography) of the experiences and influences of social support on cardiovascular disease prevention. She has since advised and supported colleagues and students with qualitative syntheses on a variety of research areas. 

The primary research in Farina’s PhD included multi-channel recruitment and in-depth interviews. Data collection was based on the theory of Social Capital and used alongside the Convoy model diagram to elicit responses on social networks, cultural norms and trust. Framework analysis was used to develop and present an interpretation of findings.

Leadership roles

• Early Career Researchers and Academics Group (ECRAG): Co-chair and editor of the monthly blogs. Managing and organising regular professional and personal development sessions (2012-2019)

Farina’s research interests can also be found on Early Career Researcher’s and Academic’s Group (ECRAG) where she was co-chair from 2012-2019

• Mentor for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers 

Awards and prizes

Graduate Poster Conference First Prize winner for College of Medical and Dental Sciences (2014) 

Society Membership

Member of the British Psychological Society 

Reviewer

• Peer Reviewer for Patient Education and Counselling
• Peer Reviewer for Chronic Illness 

Prior

• Doctoral Researcher’s Diversity Network (DRDN): representative for the Institute of Applied Health Research
• PERCAT: Postdoctoral/Early career researcher representative for career development and training, and workshop facilitator
• IRIS: Institute of Research Into Superdiversity. Participating in organisation of the first annual Superdiversity conference. Doctoral representative and workshop facilitator
• Post-graduate rep at the Institute of Applied Health Research