Professor Koula Asimakopoulou
Associate Dean Research and Knowledge Exchange,
Role
I am the Associate Dean Research and Knowledge Exchange (ADRKE) for the Faculty of
Health and Life Sciences. By training, I am a scientist-practitioner Health Psychologist and
as ADRKE I lead and manage the implementation of the University Research and
Knowledge Exchange Strategy through the Faculty. In doing so, I have the privilege to
nurture, support and work with a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of research talent based
across four University Departments; the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, the Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work, the Department of Psychology,
Health and Professional Development and the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery.
My role involves working closely with the University’s Directorate of Research,
Innovation and Enterprise to support their efforts on facilitate world-leading research,
cutting-edge innovation and promote research engagement across a range of environments.
Teaching and supervision
Modules taught
I supervise PhD students across a range of Health and Allied Health areas. I currently look
after two PhD students whose projects are looking at oral health and behaviour change in
women with Gestational Diabetes (Camilla Kristenssen) and the delivery of person-centred
care in people with dental anxiety (Metaxia Kritsidima). They are both co-supervised with
academic colleagues at King’s College London.
Research
My research is in health psychology. Broadly, I am interested in supporting patients and
health-care professionals (HCPs) to engage in behaviour change to support healthy lives
and adjust to the effects of physical illness. Specifically, I am interested in patient-HCP
communication, (in particular the use of risk information to motivate change), cognitive
errors in health decision-making, the definition, implementation and measurement of
person-centred care, patient empowerment, patient adherence with health advice, chronic
illness adjustment and supporting people to undertake activities e.g. healthy eating,
physical activity that contribute to a of healthy lifestyle. I have a keen interest in research
ethics, in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods projects and in the use of techniques
such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support patients with a range of physical and mental
health issues.
Publications
Professional information
Memberships of professional bodies
I am a British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Health Psychologist and a Health
Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registered Practitioner Health Psychologist. I am qualified to supervise the work of Health Psychology trainees seeking to obtain Full
Membership of the BPS Division of Health Psychology.