Sasha Johnston is an experienced paramedic and researcher, currently undertaking a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) doctoral research fellowship via a DPhil in experimental psychology at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on ambulance employee mental health and well-being, with the aim of enhancing organizational support systems within the profession. Sasha completed an NHS England Allied Health Professions (AHP) clinical fellowship, during which she led a project that was recognized with the NHS England Integrated Personalised Care Award for innovative collaboration between emergency and community services to improve patient care. With diverse experience across the UK and the Caribbean, Sasha has held various roles within ambulance services, including frontline lead paramedic and research paramedic. She is a dedicated advocate for ambulance employee mental health, emphasizing the importance of person-centered approaches and co-production in bridging the gap between healthcare workers and the services designed to support them. In recognition of her contributions to the field, she was awarded the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer’s inaugural Gold Award for Excellence.
Abbie Wilkins holds a BSc in psychology, an MSc in cognitive neuroscience, and a PGCert in low-intensity cognitive behavioral therapy. She held the role of associate lecturer at the University of Exeter, training psychological well-being practitioners in the NHS, and was part of a research team at the University of Oxford supporting healthcare workers with PTSD and depression during and after COVID. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree as a trainee clinical psychologist at the University of Exeter within Devon Partnership NHS Trust. Her current research focuses on marginalized intersectional identities including the experiences of LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers in the UK and autism diagnoses for older adults in the NHS.
