Dr Athina Belsi

Summary

Athina Belsi BSc, MPH, PhD is a Senior Teaching Fellow in Clinical Communication at Imperial College School of Medicine and an Academic Tutor, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. She has also been joint Leader in Clinical Communication in the old curriculum.

Athina originally trained as a clinical social worker in Greece, before moving to the UK to study for a Master’s in Public Health at King’s College London which led to a PhD. Before taking up her current position, Athina had led work into understanding patient perceptions of integrated care pathways at the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College, following a research associate and tutor in dental public health post she previously held at King’s College London. Prior to moving to London 17 years ago, Athina was leading a health and social care programme for older patients living in the community in Greece.

Athina is also a qualified Sophrologist and is exploring how Sophrology, a self-development and wellbeing technique, can be used to reduce stress, enhance positivity and improve wellbeing in healthcare staff.

Athina has published and presented her work in conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

 

Research

Athina’s research interests lie in the field of patients’ experiences from interactions with healthcare professionals and provision of services, as well as patients’ views on what would contribute to better wellbeing.

She is also interested in medical student and healthcare professionals’ wellbeing and ways to enhance it, an area she is particularly keen to explore in her capacity as a Sophrologist. 

Athina's current research focuses on:

• designing an education programme to support living and well-being of people with a renal transplant
• the impact that clinical communication teaching has on students’ confidence levels when they communicate with patients.
• patients’ experiences from their interactions with healthcare professionals and their expectations from consultations

To date her research has focused on healthcare education, including:

• students’ motivation to study healthcare professions, their career expectations and the role they play in career choice
• the impact of personality on clinical career pathways and the effect of studying on students’ wellbeing

Athina has also been involved and has ongoing collaborations with colleagues from Imperial, including Prof McGregor, Prof C. Alexander; and Dr L. Johansson

She has also been involved in the Pilot Registry for the Investigation and Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (RIPA).

 

Education

undergraduate Teaching

• Clinical Communication
• Academic Tutor Years 1, 2 & 3

Postgraduate Teaching & Supervision

PGCert in Medical Education:

• Lecturer and Personal Tutor

PGCert in Surgical Innovation:

• Lecturer

M.Ed. Surgical Education:

•  Project Supervisor & Lecturer Module 2-Theory and Practice of Learning and Teaching

MSc Quality and Safety in Healthcare:

• Personal Tutor

PhD Supervision

BSc project supervision

Publications

Sein E, Belsi A, Terzidou V, Patel R (2023) The Early Determinants Of Career Choices For Medical Students Following An Obstetrics And Gynaecology Placement: Mixed Methods Study. BJOG. Dec 7. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.17732. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38059307.

Boyles R, Alexander A, Belsi A, & Strutton P. (2023) Are Clinical Prediction Rules Used For Spinal Cord Injury? A Survey Of Clinical Practice. Topics In Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation (accepted for publication)

Johansson, L.R., Surendran, S., Croker, H., Dronsfield, S., Goff, L., Hutchinson, J., Thomas, N., Willicombe, M. and Belsi, A. (2023). Wellbeing and lifestyle in transplantation (WALT): selected themes from a qualitative study. Journal of Kidney Care. 8 (1), pp. 6-10. https://doi.org/10.12968/jokc.2023.8.1.6 

Belsi A, Croker H, Dronsfield S, Goff L, Hutchinson J, Thomas N, Willicombe M, Surendran S 2023 Health communication and self-care: the Wellbeing And Lifestyle in Transplantation study (WALT).: Presenter(s): Lina Johansson, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust, United Kingdom Patient Educaiton and Councelling V109 (S), p.101, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.236

Dalrymple K, Nestel D, Gibson S, Belsi A Experiential learning in online clinical skills education – Opportunities for faculty development (accepted workshop at the 9^th International Clinical Skills Conference, Prato, Italy, May 2023

Belsi A., Ghotane S., Asimakopoulou K., Gallagher J.E. (2023) Career Aspirations Of Dually Trained Dental Hygiene-Therapy Students From One London Dental Institute. Modern Approaches In Dentistry And Oral Health Care (MADOHC) (Submitted For Publication)

Clunie G, Belsi A, Roe J, Sandhu G, McGregor A, Alexander C et al., 2022, “Is there something wrong with your voice?” A qualitative study of the voice concerns of people with laryngotracheal stenosis, International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, ISSN: 1368-2822

Turner S, Belsi A, McGregor AH, 2022, Issues faced by prosthetists and physiotherapists during lower-limb prosthetic rehabilitation: a thematic analysis, Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, Vol: 2, ISSN: 2673-6861

Turner S, Belsi A, McGregor AH, 2022, Issues faced by people with amputation(s) during lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation: a thematic analysis, Prosthetics and Orthotics International, Vol: 46, Pages: 61-67

Clunie GM, Belsi A, Roe JWG, Alexander CM, Sandhu G, McGregor Aet al., 2021, Not just dyspnoea: swallowing as a concern for adults with laryngotracheal stenosis undergoing airway reconstruction, Dysphagia, Vol: 37, Pages: 365-374, ISSN: 0179-051X

Belsi A, Murtagh G (2018), Peer tutoring in clinical communication teaching: the experience of 1st year students and their peer tutors , MedEdPublish, 7, [2], 67, doi:https://doi.org/10.15694/mep.2018.0000135.1

Durkan C, Belsi A, Griffiths R (2016), The knowledge of dental nurses at one institution of the scope of practice of the dental team members, BDJ Team 3, Article number: 16010 (2016)

Belsi A, Papi E, McGregor AH (2016), Impact of wearable technology on psychosocial factors of osteoarthritis management: a qualitative study, BMJ Open, Vol:6, ISSN:2044-6055

 Papi E, Belsi A, McGregor AH (2015) A knee monitoring device and the preferences of patients living with osteoarthritis: a qualitative study, BMJ OPEN, Vol: 5, ISSN: 2044-6055

N. Curry, M. Harris, L. Gunn, Y. Pappas, I.Blunt, H. Holder, N. Mastellos, M. Soljak,  J. Smith, A. Ignatowicz, F. Greaves, A. Belsi, N. Costin-Davis, J. Jones-Nielson, G. Vashitz, S.Patterson, L. Cecil, J. Car, A. Majeed, M. Bardsley. (2013) An evaluation of an integrated care pilot in North West London Int J Integr Care 2013; Jul-Sep; URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1-114735

 A. Belsi, K. Asimakopoulou, N. Donaldson, J.E. Gallagher (2014) Motivation to study dental professions at one London Dental School, European Journal of Dental Education, 18 (1), pp. 24-30. 

 A. Belsi, Gonzalez-Maffe J, Jones K, Wright D, Gallagher JE (2013) Care home managers’ views of oral healthcare services for institutionalised older people in inner city London, Community Dental Health, v30 (2), pp.77-82

Durkan K, Belsi A, Johnson R, Gallagher JE (2011) Career Pathways and Continuing Professional Development of Dental Nurses at One Dental Hospital, British Dental Journal, v213 (2), E1

 A. Belsi, J.E. Gallagher, K. Asimakopoulou (2011) Personality Profile of Students Entering Dentistry, Hygiene/Therapy and Dental Nursing at one London Dental Institute, European Journal of Dental Education, v15 (2), pp. 1-5

Diakakis P, Ventouri K, Visvardis E E, Belsi A, Kosmadakis N, Kapsabelis P, Tsitoura S (2004) Early development and learning difficulties, Brain & Development, v26, Suppl. 1, p43.

 

Conference Papers

Johansson L, Surendran S, Belsi A. Health communication and self-care: Wellbeing And Lifestyle in Transplantation (WALT) study. ICCH, Glasgow, 2022

Johansson L, Surendran S, Belsi A. Wellbeing and lifestyle in Transplantation (WALT). A qualitative exploration of the lived experiences of people with a renal transplant. UK Kidney Week, June 2022

Clunie, G., Belsi, A., Roe, J., Alexander, C. M., Sandhu, G. S., McGregor, A. "Is there something wrong with your voice?": The lived experience of airway stenosis and voice changes. (2021) Oral presentation. RCSLT Conference (virtual)

Turner S, Belsi A & McGregor A, Lower Limb Prosthetic Rehabilitation Priorities: a thematic analysis of prosthesis user and clinician interviews, ISPO Virtual World Congress 2021

Belsi A, Eves S, Texeira A, Murtagh G, Frame K. First year students’ experiences from online teaching of communication skills at Imperial College London School of Medicine, ICCH 2021

Belsi A, Eves S, Texeira A, Frame K, Murtagh G. Lessons Learnt and Implemented from the first online Simulated Patient Sessions in Clinical Communication at Imperial College School of Medicine ICCH 2021

Clunie, G., Belsi, A., Roe, J.W.G., Alexander, C., Sandhu, G. and McGregor, A.  (2020) Not just dyspnoea – swallowing as a concern for adults with laryngotracheal stenosis who undergo reconstructive surgery. Oral presentation. 8^th UK SRG Conference, London, UK.

A Belsi, N Houbby, A. Hagana (2019) Peer Tutoring in Clinical Communication teaching: motivation and perceptions of Year 3 medical students at one London Medical School. EACH (Oct 27-30), San Diego, USA (Oral Presentation)

A Belsi, G.M. Murtagh (2014) Surveying patients’ experiences of consultations with medical professionals in a primary care setting, EACH (Sept 27-30), Holland (Poster Presentation)

Papi, A. Belsi, A.H. McGregor (2014) Wearable Technology in Osteoarthritis: A qualitative study of patients’ perspective, 5th Medical Engineering Centres Annual Meeting and 7th Bioengineering Society Meeting, London, UK, September.

Belsi A, Ghotane S G,  Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J E (2012) Final-year Hygiene/Therapy Students’ Career Aspirations in One London Dental Institute, IADR General Session (June 19-23), Brazil (Oral Presentation) 

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou , Gallagher JE (2012) Professional Mobility Within Dentistry: The Case Of Dental Care Professionals at King’s College London Dental Institute (KCLDI), British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, Spring Scientific Meeting, (April 18-19, 2012) London (Poster Presentation)

A. Belsi, K. Asimakopoulou, J.E. Gallagher (2011) Hygiene/Therapy students' motivation to study in one London dental school, BSODR Meeting (Sept. 12-15, 2011), Sheffield, England (Oral Presentation)

 Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Donaldson N, Gallagher J (2010) Well-being and personality of students from one London Dental Institute IADR General Session (July 14-17, 2010) Barcelona, Spain (Poster Presentation)

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Donaldson N, Gallagher J (2010) Motivation of Student Dental Professionals at One London School IADR General Session (July 14-17, 2010) Barcelona, Spain (Poster Presentation)

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J (2010) Career Expectations of Hygiene/Therapy and Dental Nursing Students at King’s College London Dental Institute British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, Spring Scientific Meeting, Brighton (Poster Presentation) 

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J (2009) Motivation, Background and Career Intentions of Hygiene/Therapy Students Proceedings of the 2009 Conference of the British Society for Dental Research, Glasgow, September 1^st-4^th, p28, (Oral Presentation)

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J (2009) Motivation, Background and Career Intentions of Dental Nursing Students, Proceedings of the 2009 Conference of the British Society for Dental Research, Glasgow, September 1^st-4^th, p28 (Oral Presentation)

Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J (2009) Personality Profile of Students Entering Hygiene/Therapy, Dental Nursing and Dentistry (graduate entry) at King’s College London, British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry, Spring Scientific Meeting, Manchester (Poster Presentation)

 Belsi A, Asimakopoulou K, Gallagher J (2008) Personality Profile of students entering dentistry at King’s College London, Proceedings of the 4th Scientific Meeting of the Pan European Federation of IADR, London, September 10-12, p144 (Poster Presentation)

Belsi A, Gonzales J, Jones K, Wright D, Gallagher J (2008) Dental Care for Adults in Nursing and Residential Care Homes International Association of Dental Research, 86th General Session & Exhibition, July 2008 (Poster Presentation)

Jones K, Belsi A, Wright D, Donaldson N, Watt R, Warnakulasuryia S, Gallagher J (2007) Oral Health Promotion In Primary Dental Care in South East London, 10^th Annual Conference of the UK Federation of Primary Care Research Organisations and 1^st Joint Conference with the Primary Care Research Network in England, November 2007 (Poster Presentation)

 

 

Reports

Pappas Y, Curry N, Bardsley M, Smith J, Majeed A, Car J et al. (2012). NHS North West London Integrated Care Pilot: Year one evaluation.

Belsi A, Gonzales J, Jones K, Wright D, Gallagher J Dental Care for Residents of Care Homes across three South London Boroughs: Managers’ Views (KCLDI, 2008)

 

 

Selected Publications

Journal Articles

More Publications