Rafiah Patel

Rafiah is an NHS Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) specialising in supporting children with co-occurring language and learning needs. Over the years, Rafiah has developed a keen interest in the role of technology across health, education and social care.

In 2019, Rafiah began a Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship with the NIHR, the UK’s largest funder of health and care research. Her PhD builds on her digital interest and growing expertise by exploring the co-design and development of a digital language intervention. As part of her PhD, she has been awarded a student placement at the Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for data science and AI

During the pandemic, Rafiah had the opportunity within her fellowship to support clinicians with remote working and subsequently co-authored the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s Telehealth Guidance.

Rafiah is also a steering group member of the Shuri Network, the first NHS and care network of women from minority ethnic groups in digital health .