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Professor Julie Davies
Professor of Healthcare Management and Leadership Development

Eastern Gateway 202h

Research grants and projects

Grants

This study looks at the particular competencies and strategies employed by healthcare professionals and managers as they move into new career opportunities and leadership positions within evolving healthcare systems. It is centered around career ecosystems theory and seeks to understand how healthcare professionals and managers in England, India, and Saudi Arabia manage tensions between workplace demands and personal agency in the context of career progression, resilience, and wellness. The research incorporates semi-structured interviews with around 60 male and female respondents in addition to analysing the Medical Women Talking podcast series to gain insight into participants’ leadership experiences and competencies. This research also focuses on life stories and attempts to capture career inflexions that enable individuals to assume leadership roles. It builds on existing literature on competencies and career ecosystems by examining how individuals negotiate personal health while assuming multiple and stressful roles. These results will inform leadership development, promote workforce well-being, and enhance longitudinal insights into career progression in AI-enabled healthcare systems where burnout and mental health challenges are common. This research will draw comparisons between various healthcare systems to propose recommendations for healthcare practitioners’ education, leadership development, and workforce retention in developed and developing countries
Funder: British Academy of Management
Duration: October 2025 - January 2027

Research links