Gulnar Ali

Dr Gulnar Ali

Senior Lecturer

, School of Education and Communities

Qualifications

  • PhD (2013-2017) Integrating Spirituality into Nursing Education, University of Huddersfield, UK
  • MSc (2006-2007) Medical Anthropology, UCL, UK
  • MA (2000-2002) Islamic Studies, University of Karachi, UK
  • Diploma in Gen. Nursing (1995-1998) Diploma in Gen Nursing, Aga Khan University, SONAM, Karachi, Pakistan.

Areas Of Interest

  • Spirituality and Existential Health
  • Mental Health Nursing
  • Palliative Care
  • Transformative Learning
  • Evidence and Values based practice.
Gulnar Ali
G.Ali@uel.ac.uk 020 8223 4229 ORCID: 0000-0003-4656-0882 EB.1.11, Docklands
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OVERVIEW

Dr Gulnar Ali diligently blends ontological and humanistic perspectives to mental health and wellbeing. With a particular interest in the ontological aspect of human phenomenon, Gulnar's professional background ranges wide spectrum of teaching, clinical practice and research experience in: Spirituality, Psychiatry, Medical Anthropology, Nursing Philosophy and Islamic studies.

She is passionate to expand the notion of healing and mental wellbeing through authenticity. Currently, she is involved in teaching undergraduate/postgraduate courses, doctoral research supervision, education management, module leadership, research consultation, project evaluation, counselling and mentoring projects. As a researcher, Dr Ali is actively engaged in writing and reviewing research grants bids on COVID-19 with national and international nursing universities.

Her research interest and publications are majorly aimed at ontological reasoning to bring further innovation in self-care approaches through professional authenticity and empowerment. With a vision to bring transformation in nursing education, Gulnar is keen to develop pedagogical structures that could embrace spiritual and existential care aspects.

Based on her PhD research (2013-2017), she has developed a reflective framework: SOPHIE (Self-Exploration through Ontological, Phenomenological, Humanistic, Ideological and Existential Expressions). SOPHIE has been recognised as practice methodology, to embrace spiritual care aspects in health education and practice.

Dr  Ali will be assisting in teaching and research supervision in: Psychological Perspectives and Community work. She will also collaborate with the research team in developing global health research grants projects.

RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS AND FUNDING APPLICATIONS

  • EDUCOM - Seed funding award, UEL for WINGS Extended Study (Mar-July 2023) WINGS Project: Wellness Interventions for Nurses' Post traumatic growth and self-care: A pilot randomized controlled trial study: A pilot study. Investigators: Dr. Gulnar Ali, Dr. Nasreen Lalani, (PI) Purdue University, USA. Collaborators: Dr. Kawther Hamash - Kennesaw University, USA; Dr. Georgia L Lockwood-Estrin, University of East London.
  • EDUCOM - Impact Case study funding award, UEL for APN Global study. (Mar-July 2023) Advanced Practice Nurses’ Perceptions of Spirituality Investigators: Dr. Gulnar Ali - UEL, Professor Melanie Rogers (PI), University of Huddersfield, UK. CN NP/APN Network and several universities across the globe.
  • SWAN- Self-healing and Wellbeing interventions through Existential Advocacy and Narrative inquiry- Using SOPHIE as practice methodology. Knowledge Exchange Funding, UEL. Funding awarded: Dec, 2, 2022. (PL: Dr. Gulnar Ali- Collaborative Partners/UEL Students: Sonia Esperanza QUINTERO, Kati TIKKANEN, Yolanda EDO FIGAS)
  • Intentionality and Healing- UEL Education & Communities Research, Impact and Innovation Conference funding. Awarded Nov 02, 22.
  • Addressing Psychological Trauma through Existential Advocacy among LGBTQ community- A Pilot Case Study In East London. The BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grants, 2022. PI: Dr. Gulnar Ali- UEL, Co-I: Dr. Angie Voela, Dr. Eric Ansong - UEL, UK; Dr. Nasreen Lalani- Purdue University US. (Application submitted- Nov 09, 2022).
  • Needs assessment and capacity building for caregivers working in a care home in Karachi, Pakistan. Common Wealth funding application 2022. Investigators: PI: Dr. Laila Khalfan Surani- UWTSD, London and Co-Founder VCARE, PK; Co-I: Dr. Gulnar Ali- UEL, Dr. Michael Snowden and Dr. Jammie Halsall, University of Huddersfield, UK. Ms. Fatima Khalfan -Founder VCARE, PK), Mr. Shohail Mohammad Ali -Founder TAO of leadership, PK. (Application submitted- Oct 31, 2022)
  • The Economics of Art-based Healing in Pediatric Care. (PI) Dr.Asif Khowaja, Brock University, CA. Co-Applicant: Dr. Gulnar Ali, UEL; Dr. Nasreen Lalani, Purdue University, US; Dr. April Kam, McMasters University CA. Collaborator: Sonia Pagura- Director Quality, Patient Safety, Risk and Patient Relations, Niagara Health, CA. New Frontiers in Research Fund - Exploration Grant. (Submitted Sept 2022)
  • Advanced Practice Nurses’ Perceptions of Spirituality. (PI) Prof Melanie Rogers, University of Huddersfield, UK. CN NP/APN Network and a number of Universities across the globe. Duration Mar 2022-2023. Collaborator: Dr. Gulnar Ali, UEL.
  • Self-reflective interventions to support resiliency, post-traumatic growth, and wellbeing of frontline nurses in palliative care settings: A pilot study. Investigators: (PI) Dr  Nasreen Lalani, (Co-I): Dr. Karen Foli, Perdue University, USA. Consultant: Dr  Gulnar Ali. Grant awarded: $ 10,000 by American Psychiatric Nursing Association (APNA). Duration: July 2021-2022.
  • An Exploration of Palliative Care Knowledge and Competencies among Nurses in Critical Care Settings: A Case Study from Pakistan. Investigators: (PI) Dr  Nasreen Lalani-Perdue University USA, PI: Dr  Salma Rattani- Aga Khan University, Pakistan, Co-I: Sarfaraz Masih-Dow University Hospital, Co-I: Israar Ahmed- Rufaidah Nursing College Prime Foundation, Pakistan. Consultant: Dr  Gulnar Ali, UEL- Duration: 2021-2022.
  • An exploration of mentorship within health care practice education. Investigators: (PI) Mehtab Jaffer, (Co-I) Dr  Nagham Rizwi, Dr  Rozina Karmaliani, Dr  Tazeen Ali- Aga Khan University, Pakistan. Consultants: Dr Gulnar Ali - UEL, Dr Michael Snowden and Dr  Jamie Halsall from the University of Huddersfield, UK. Duration: 2020-2022.

UEL research repository outputs

PUBLICATIONS

  • Wattis J, Rogers M, Curran S & Ali, G. (2021). In Higgs J, Orrell J, Tasker D, Patton N: Shaping wise futures: Shared future possibilities: Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Brill-Sense Publishers.
  • Lalani N. and Ali G. (2021). Stories of Hope: Case study on Palliative care from Pakistan. In: Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Practice Nursing: Stories of Hope (Advanced Practice in Nursing). Edited by M. Rogers, Springer. ISBN-10: ‎ 3030714632.
  • Wattis J, Rogers M, Ali G, Curran S (2021). Spiritually Competent Practice and Cultural aspects of Spirituality. In: In: Spiritual Dimensions of Advanced Practice Nursing: Stories of Hope (Advanced Practice in Nursing). Edited by M. Rogers, Springer. ISBN-10: ‎ 3030714632.
  • Schwartz A., Baume K., Snowden A., Patel J., Genders N., Ali G. (2021) Self-Care. In: McSherry W., Boughey A., Attard J. (eds) Enhancing Nurses' and Midwives' Competence in Providing Spiritual Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65888-5_4
  • Ali G. and Lalani, N. (2020). Approaching spiritual and existential care needs in health education: Applying SOPHIE (Self-exploration through Ontological, Phenomenological, and Humanistic, Ideological, and Existential expressions), as practice methodology. Religions. 11, 451; doi:10.3390/rel11090451
  • Lalani, N. and Ali, G. (2020). Methodological and ethical challenges while conducting qualitative research on spirituality and end of life in a Muslim context: a guide to novice researchers. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. ;26(7):362-370. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2020.26.7.362.
  • Ali G., Snowden M. (2019) SOPHIE (Self-Exploration Through Ontological, Phenomenological, Humanistic, Ideological and Existential Expressions): A Mentoring Framework. In: Snowden M., Halsall J. (eds) Mentorship, Leadership, and Research. International Perspectives on Social Policy, Administration, and Practice. Springer, Cham.
  • Wattis, J., Rogers, M., Ali. G, and Curran, S. (2019). Bringing Spirituality and Wisdom into Practice. In: Practice Wisdom: Values and Interpretations, Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Brill-Sense Publishers. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004410497_014
  • Ali, G., Snowden, M., Wattis, J., and Roger, M. (2018). Spirituality in Nursing Education: Knowledge and practice gaps. In: International Journal of Multidisciplinary Comparative Studies, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Comparative Studies, Volume 5 Nos. 1-3, 2018, pp.27-49.
  • Snowden, M. and Ali, G. (2017). How can spirituality be integrated in undergraduate and postgraduate education?. In: Spiritually Competent Practice in Health Care. London, UK: CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group. ISBN 9781138739116.
  • Ali, Gulnar (2017) Multiple Case Studies Exploring Integration of Spirituality in Undergraduate Nursing Education in England. Doctoral thesis, University of Huddersfield. [online]
  • Low Birth-Weight in Newham: Definitions, Antecedents and Prevention- UCL partners project with Newham Clinical Commissioning group. (Oct 2017).
  • Ali, G., Wattis, J. and Snowden, M. (2015). 'Why are Spiritual Aspects of Care so hard to Address in Nursing Education?' A Literature Review (1993-2015), International Journal of Multidisciplinary Comparative Studies, 2 (1), pp. 7-31. ISSN 2059-4976.
  • Ali, G., Lalani, N., and Charania, N. (2015). Community mental health initiatives in Pakistan. Nursing Standard. Royal College of Nursing, UK - 29, 22, 44-48.
  • Ali, G. (2015). Crises Cries- Understanding Spirit Possession from Transcultural Perspective. The Patriarch vol. 2- St-Patrick’s College, London, UK.
  • Ali, G. & Lalani, N. (2012). Community Mental Health Nursing-An Innovation through Faculty practice in Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society, Vol (2). Pakistan.
  • Ali, G. (2012). Spirit Possession- a Cry of identity Crises in Woman! I -Manager's Journal on Nursing, Vol 02, Issue 01 Feb-April 2012, India.
  • Karamali, N. & Ali, G. (2012) Integrating the concepts of Elderly Rehabilitation in the Baccalaureate curriculum at the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery, Karachi, Pakistan. i-Manager's Journal on Nursing; Nagercoil Vol. 2, Iss. 3, 18-22.
  • Jetha, Z. A., Lalani, N. S., Ali, G. (2012). Hidden voices of hermaphrodites. i-manager's Journal on Nursing, 2(2), 18-22. Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_son/147
  • Begum, S., Khowaja, S and Ali, G. (2012). Media Created Violence: A Social Determinant of Mental Health. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 62 (12):1338-40, Pakistan.
  • Ali, G. (2008) Who Cares! A collection of certain recent book reviews on Medical Anthropology, Journal of Anthropology & Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 2 August 2008, pages 147 – 149. London: Rutledge.
  • Ali, G. (2008) Sighing Heights- Ethnographic report on Susum population in Northern Areas of Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Clinical and Social Psychology, Volume 06, June 2008, pages 66-70, Lahore, Pakistan.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATIONS

  • Fellow Royal Society for Public Health, UK (FRSPH) Oct 2019 - 2022.
  • Master Practitioner - European Mentoring and Coaching Council, UK (EMCC) Sept 2020 - 2022.
  • Fellow Higher Education Academy UK (FHEA) June 2018  - To date.
  • Fellow Royal Society for Public Health, UK (FRSPH) Oct 2019 - To date.
  • Master Practitioner - European Mentoring and Coaching Council, UK (EMCC) Sept 2020 - present.
  • Nurse Leader - The Honour Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Rho Delta Chapter, Aga Khan University, Pakistan-Dec 2010 -To date
  • Member - Enhancing Nurses Competence in Providing Spiritual Care through Innovative Education and Compassionate Care (EPICC) - European Spirituality in Nursing and Midwifery Research Network, Staffordshire University, UK (July 2018 - To date).
  • Spirituality Special Interest Group, University of Huddersfield, UK - Jan 2013 - To date.
  • Member, British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) - April 2019-2020
  • Accredited Trainer - Race Equality and Culture Competency, by Ferns Associates Ltd and East London NHS Trust, UK - Aug 2009.