Fiona has a nursing and social care background. She gained a B.Sc. in Health Studies with Business Studies from Middlesex University, followed by a M.Sc. in the Sociology of Health, Illness and Health Care from University College London. Her PhD is from UCL and the Rijks University Groningen (Netherlands) and is in Medical Sociology exploring aspects relating to masculinity and men’s health.

Fiona has worked at a number of academic institutions including Imperial College London, Leicester University, Kingston University and London Metropolitan University. She is currently an Associate Lecturer with Open University and holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Public Health/ Health Promotion at UEL.

• Equality and Diversity Committee
• Programme Committee Public Health
• Programme Committee Health Promotion

Areas of interest/Summary of Expertise:

• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Sociology of the body
• Masculinity and Men’s Health
• Lifecourse and Ageing
• Medicalization of Masculinity
• Climate Change and Human Health

• B.Sc. Public Health
• B.Sc. Health Promotion
• MPH (Masters in Public Health)

Undergraduate teaching:

• HS1114 Introduction to Health Promotion
• HS1111 Research Methods
• HS1115 Key Concepts in Health Promotion
• HS 2106 Health Inequalities
• HS2102 Principles and Values in Health Promotion
• HS3103 Project Module

Postgraduate teaching:

• HSM103 Health Promotion: Theory and Practice
• HSM110 Dissertation Module

• Ageing and Masculinity
• Narrative Research: Experiencing Disability

McGowan, F. (2013) “ Connie’s story: It’s always in my backpack” in Smith, P. (ed) Cultures of Disability (in press)

McGowan, F. & Higgs, P. (2012) “ Ageing, Embodiment and the Third and Fourth Ages” in Kampf, A., Marhsall, B., & Peterson, A. (eds) Ageing Men: Masculinities and Modern Medicine.

Regmi, K., Bone, A., McGowan, F. (2011) To what extent could local general practioners commissioning help increase the effectiveness of NHS at primary care? A meta-ethnographic study in the UK. American Journal of Health Studies, 26: 3.

Fiona is currently involved in a research project in the Netherlands in collaboration with Erlinde Jaeger- Adriaansz of ZorgDrenthe – a health care provider in the North Netherlands. This project is exploring the complex issues around disability and culture from an interprofessional perspective.

Fiona’s research interests include the interaction between the environment and human health and well being. This encompasses the concept of the “green gym” and the “blue gym”. In relation to this, she has recently joined the editorial board of the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK with the responsibility to develop the area exploring the relationship between human health and the oceans.

Fiona also acts as a peer reviewer for the journal Social Theory and Health.

Fiona has an active collaboration with a number of community organisations in Newham. She has been involved with Community Links in promoting the Small ‘c’ campaign and has successfully organised a number of local Health Promotion campaigns.