DILISHA PATEL PhD
e: info@dilishapatel.com
Researcher in Gender & Disability Justice and HCI, Global Disability Innovation Hub. February 2023- Present
I am working on a broad range of projects on assistive technology and partnering with organisations such as UNFPA and the GATE network. I am open to engaging with others working in the theme of disability justice and at the intersection of reproductive and sexual health and disabled people.
Current projects include:
Exploring the concept of disability justice and approaches to understand its definition and application.
Working with the UNFPA Asia & the Pacific country office to customise and validate dignity kits to be inclusive for disabled people.
UNFPA New York office, support capacity building and mentoring groups to be empowered to develop and scale innovative solutions that disrupt inequalities and foster the empowerment of women and girls in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Supporting country capacity assessments for assistive technology.
Postdoctoral Researcher in HCI, Computer Science, UCL Interaction Centre. August 2022 – February 2023
HERMES: Teleophthalmology-enabled and AI-ready referral pathway for retinal disease.
I will be exploring the barriers and facilitators of teleophthalmology in ophthalmology care, focusing on the patients and providers perspectives. I am analysing qualitative in-depth interview and observation data.
PhD Student Computer Science, UCL Interaction Centre & Institute for Women’s Health, University College London: April 2017- August 2022
Undertaking a human computer interaction (HCI) studentship at UCLIC. Exploring how we can use technology to support men who experience fertility difficulties, by understanding their digital information seeking journey.
Associated publications below.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: 2009 – 2010. MSc in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research.
Kings College University: 2006 – 2009 Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons).
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Reviewed Papers for:
Proc. ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (PACMHCI)
CHI 2022
CHI 2020
CSCW 2020
DIS 2020
CHI 2019
CSCW 2019
OzCHI 2019
Associate Chair for Late Breaking Work CHI 2020, CHI 2022
Awards
Best Overall Oral Presentation 2019 – European Conference on Preconception Health and Care. (5000 kr)
Best Overall Poster Presentation 2017- EGA Institute for Women’s Health 12th Annual Scientific Conference. (£250)
Invited Talks
The Rank Prize Funds; Mini Symposium on Developmental Programming for Human Disease: Preconception Nutrition and Lifelong Health, Grasmere. “What do women planning a pregnancy think of preconception care interventions?”
Student Volunteer
NordiCHI 2018
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant (2019- present) for Interaction Design, Interaction Science, Human Factors for Digital Health and Affective Interaction on the HCI Masters program at UCLIC.
- Teaching on qualitative research methods
- Group mentor for Interaction Design and Affective Interactions projects
- Supported lecturers in class and preparing teaching materials
- Marking coursework
MSc Students Supervised:
Roos Van Greevenbroek- Distinction (2020)
Hsin Tung Ko- Distinction (2019)
Silvia Labianco- Distinction (2018)
University College London, Research Associate: 2016 – 2017
- Low birth-weight in Newham: Definitions, Antecedents and Prevention funded by the Newham CCG / UCLPartners Partnership Programme, in collaboration with University of East London. Leading qualitative study on health professionals views, opinions and experience with low birth-weight and the development, implementation and evaluation of a co-designed intervention.
- Project Manager: Pilot study to explore the acceptability of health buddies supporting women with their pre-pregnancy health behaviours in Primary Care.
University College London, Research Assistant: 2012 – 2016
- Health Education England funded study on mobile interventions for women planning a pregnancy to improve preconception behaviours.
- Department of Health funded project, Pre-Pregnancy Health & Care in England (2012-2013)
- Developing preconception mhealth interventions
- Primary data collection: conducting surveys & in-depth interviews
- Transcribing interviews, and qualitative analysis, NVivo
- Quantitative data input, cleaning and management
- Quantitative descriptive data analysis, SPSS
- Multivariate analysis of data with STATA
- Development of study website
PARAS PSM, Government Medical College, Surat, India: March 2011-May 2011
- Worked with female sex workers and their children exploring their educational rehabilitation
- Composed study tools and carried out primary data collection: one to one interviews and questionnaires
- Prepared my results of qualitative data and ethnographic report, “My child won’t follow in my footsteps”.
MSc Dissertation: “What Factors Affect the Use of Contraception? Comparing the States of Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, India”
BSc Dissertation: “Why are high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines indicative of poor prognosis in patients with severe sepsis?” and “The determinants of Pre-eclampsia”
Publications: See Research Projects
Link to my Google Scholar Profile: Dilisha Patel
VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE
CAREducation Trust, Trustee & Secretary: September 2010- Present
- Promoted to Charity Trustee in 2019.
- Coordinator since 2013 & Charity Secretary since 2017.
- Vice-President of the CARE Youth Society since 2011
- International project management with grass root charities and organisations.
- Relationship management between, donors, stakeholders & local partners
- Provide technical & administrative support for the charity
- Fundraising events management and coordination
- Advisory for all supporters and collaborators of the charity
- Composing charity published literature & website management
- Project managed “The Rickshawalas” & raised £30,000 from 2010-2012
- Project managed “CARE Trek- Kilimanjaro 2013” & raised over £50,000 in 2013
ADDITIONAL SKILLS
LANGUAGES
- English- 1st language.
- Gujarati- fluent in speaking and basic reading and writing.
- Hindi- basic speaking and understanding.