I am Professor of Medical Sociology and Healthcare Organisation at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. My research deals with the changing organisation and management of healthcare systems, and public services more broadly. My primary interest is to understand how new organisational forms and processes interact with institutionalised professional practices, cultures and identitites; and how such institutional influences can both stimulate or stymie reform. I am interested in the application of social theory to different social, cultural and organisational contexts, as a means of both explaining social phenomena and extending theoretical rigour. The conceptual and theoretical foundations of my work involves making connections between medical and organisational sociology, sociology of the professions and public services management. I  specialise in the use of ethnographic and mixed method research techniques.

I am a Fellow of the Academy of Social Science, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

I have extensive research leadership and have worked on a number of high profile reform agendas, including:
 * Patient Safety & Organisational Learning
 * Quality Assurance & Risk Management
 * Lean Thinking & Service Redesign
 * Technological Innovation & Work reconfiguration
 * Professional Education & Development
 * Major system change
 
My worked has been supported and funded by the ESRC, NIHR SDO, NIHR HSR, DoH, PSRP and The Health Foundation. I have published in leading social science journals such as Social Science and Medicine, Organization Studies, Public Administration Review, Sociology of Health & Illness.