We are delighted to congratulate Midlands Mental Health and Neurosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (MHN DTP) Fellow David Wenzel on the publication of his latest article,”Dual perspectives: Navigating the roles of physician and ethnographer in sensitive spaces”, published in Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare.
Publishing in a peer-reviewed international journal is a significant achievement, and this work represents an important contribution to discussions around qualitative research methods, researcher identity, and the ethical complexities of conducting research in sensitive healthcare environments.
In the article, David reflects on the challenges and opportunities that arise when occupying dual professional identities, specifically as both a physician and an ethnographer. His work explores how researchers working within healthcare settings can navigate the blurred boundaries between clinical practice and research, particularly when engaging with vulnerable populations and emotionally challenging contexts. Through this reflective and methodological contribution, David offers valuable insights for researchers undertaking ethnographic and qualitative work across health, mental health, and social care settings.
The publication highlights the importance of reflexivity in research and demonstrates how researchers’ professional backgrounds can shape access, relationships, interpretation, and ethical decision-making in the field. By openly examining these complexities, David contributes to ongoing conversations about conducting rigorous, thoughtful, and ethically informed qualitative research.
David’s achievement reflects the high-quality, interdisciplinary research being undertaken by MHN DTP students and fellows across the partnership. His publication showcases the value of bringing together perspectives from clinical practice and social research to generate new understandings of health and healthcare experiences.
We warmly congratulate David on this accomplishment and look forward to seeing the continued impact of his research.
📖 Wenzel D (2026), Dual perspectives: Navigating the roles of physician and ethnographer in sensitive spaces, Qualitative Research in Medicine & Healthcare.
🗓️ Published: August 2026