Prof Yeliz Prior

School of Health & Society

Photo of Prof Yeliz Prior

Contact Details

PO.54 Brian Blatchford
Frederick Rd Campus
University of Salford
M6 6PU

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Current positions

Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation

Biography

Yeliz is a Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation and the Research Environment Lead at the School of Health and Society. As an occupational therapist and a skilled mixed-methods researcher, she is dedicated to improving outcomes and quality of life for those with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.

Yeliz' research is informed by real-life experiences, achieved through extensive patient and public involvement and engagement, which serves to amplify the voices of diverse groups in examining current policies and practices for the improvement of service provision. Her research also explores the transformative potential of digital health solutions and the delivery of online self-management programs like www.mskhub.com and www.workwelluk.org.

Areas of Research

Current research involves the effective management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions, work/ vocational rehabilitation and the use of digital health technologies and wearables to enable wider access to health information, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and self-management.

Areas of Supervision

1. Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Health
• Disease self-management in inflammatory or degenerative RMDs
• Early intervention and diagnostic pathways for MSK conditions
• Holistic models of care for multi-morbidity in rheumatology

2. Digital Health and Technology-Enhanced Interventions
• Development and/or evaluation of digital health tools for RMDs
• Equity, accessibility, and digital inclusion in MSK self-management
• Implementation and adoption of ePROMs in routine clinical care

3. Vocational Rehabilitation and Work Participation
• AHP-led vocational rehabilitation for people with long-term MSK conditions
• Work retention and job redesign in physically demanding roles
• Employer perspectives on supporting staff with chronic pain

4. Co-Production and Public Involvement
• Co-designed interventions to support people living with RMDs
• Methodological innovations in PPIE with under-served groups
• Evaluating the impact of co-production on service delivery and outcomes

5. Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health
• Mental health needs of young people with juvenile-onset MSK conditions
• Digital tools and peer support for anxiety/depression in youth with long-term conditions
• Transition of care from paediatric to adult rheumatology services

6. Allied Health Professional (AHP)-Led Interventions
• OT/PT-led care pathways for people with early arthritis or persistent pain
• Role of AHPs in delivering stratified or personalised MSK care
• Innovations in AHP workforce models in rheumatology

Teaching Qualifications and Recognitions Publications

Teaching

Previously, Yeliz led the taught programme for the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Prosthetics and Orthotics (2019–2024), a collaboration between the University of Salford, Imperial College London, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Southampton, alongside 25+ global industry partners.

Currently, Yeliz supervises postgraduate students and mentors nurses and allied health professionals interested in research. She also contributes to textbook authorship and educational materials focused on clinical education and digital health management. Her latest textbooks include:

•Curtin, M., Egan, M., Prior, Y., Parnell, T., Cezar Da Cruz, D., Sauvé-Schenk, K., & Galvaan, R. (2024). Occupational Therapy for People Experiencing Illness, Injury, or Impairment (8th Ed.). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323882927

•Prior, Y. & Wynn, M. (2023). Chapter 7: Digital Innovation in Healthcare. In: Digital Skills for Nursing Studies and Practice. Sage Publishing, Transforming Nursing Practice Series. ISBN: 9781529791914

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications

  • Master Practitioner in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies

    2016 - 2019

  • Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) in Academic Practice

    2013 - 2014

  • PhD (Epidemiology)

    2008 - 2013

  • BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

    2005 - 2008

Recognitions

  • European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2025 HPR Abstract Award

Publications

Publications

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