777ӰԺ

Ben Bowers

Email: bb527@cam.ac.uk

Website:

Website:

Dr Ben Bowers

Postdoctoral Associate
University Positions
Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Subjects
Medicine
Specialising in
Palliative and end of life care

Ben is a clinical academic community nurse. He leads a programme of interdisciplinary research focused on improving last-days-of-life symptom control. Ben was recently announced as one of the 75 nurses and midwives whose work has had an especially significant impact on the NHS since its creation.

Academic interests

Ben’s academic interests include: 

  • Last days of life symptom control
  • Patients and families' experiences of care
  • Medical ethics
  • Healthcare systems design
  • Human factors in healthcare
  • Patient safety
  • Community-based palliative care interventions
  • Anticipatory prescribing of injectable medications
  • Qualitative and mixed-methods research.

Degrees obtained

  • BA (Hons) Nursing, 2006.
  • MSc Advanced Practice, 2016.
  • PhD Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 2021.

Awards and prizes

  • Wellcome Early Career Award, 2023–2027.
  • European Association for Palliative Care Early Researcher Award, 2023. 
  • Queen Elizabeth Award for Outstanding Service, 2022.
  • NHS England Community Nursing Research Award, 2022.
  • NIHR School for Primary Care Research Scholarship, 2018–2021.
  • Best Research Award, Association of Palliative Medicine Congress, 2019.

Biography

Ben is a Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow and a practicing Honorary Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care. As well as his research role at the Primary Care Unit and Department of Engineering, Ben is a Community Nursing Research Consultant with the Queen’s Nursing Institute, a Visiting Research Fellow at Cardiff University, and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham. Ben has held the title of Queen’s Nurse since 2009. His recent NIHR funded PhD with the University of Cambridge investigated community end of life anticipatory prescribing and patients’, families’, and clinicians’ perspectives of this care.

Ben’s postdoctoral research interests include improving last-days-of-life symptom control and systems for providing person-centred end-of-life care at home. Ben is an interdisciplinary researcher, working with colleagues in engineering, patient safety, social sciences, primary care, and palliative care.

He was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Award for Outstanding Service in 2022 and the European Association for Palliative Care Early Researcher Award 2023, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to community nursing and palliative care research.

Other interests

Improvisation (Improv), road biking, traveling with the family, gardening, and the allotment.

Department link

Publications, links and resources

Find more information about Ben Bowers' publications and research on . 

Events

Go to the events section

News

Go to the news section

Hear from our students

  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Ahsan

    Postgraduate

    It is a well-accepted opinion in Cambridge that 777ӰԺ is the best college and no other college even comes a distant second. Its sports grounds are enormous, its buildings are mesmerising, its libraries are rich, its chapel is the oldest, its accommodation is the best value for money, its international community is diverse, its religious circles are the most welcoming, and its members are the smartest, kindest and the friendliest. It is one of the central colleges that aims to offer three years accommodation to postgraduates, and has comparatively...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • 777ӰԺ Postgraduate Student

    Imogen

    Postgraduate

    I chose Cambridge for my PGCE as it’s the leading UK institution for teacher training and Education, with an exciting, research-dominated, cutting edge course. The staff are welcoming and approachable, and make studying here an absolute joy. I’ve already completed one of my three primary school placements, in a reception class in a school just outside Cambridge, and am due to start the next one soon. I chose Jesus because of its reputation as a sporty College, but the proximity to the city centre is a big bonus. Jesus also...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Tara

    Postgraduate

    777ӰԺ has all the benefits of being large, historical and prestigious college, whilst also retaining fantastic welfare: the staff and other students all care about each other, and will be there to cheer you on when you are thriving, but also there to support you if you need any help. I chose Jesus due to several reasons, including its prime location, where it is very central, and easy to access everywhere, even if you work in one of the institutes further out. I also selected Jesus for its MCR...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Postgraduate at 777ӰԺ

    Dolly

    Postgraduate

    I chose 777ӰԺ because of the great mixture of undergraduates and postgraduates, and when I first visited I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! The sense of community in Jesus has had an enormous impact on my experience here. Whether you need help, advice, cheering up or even just a chat there is always someone there to put a smile on your face. From the MCR committee to the Porters, the canteen staff to the gardeners, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Jesus also...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Photo of postgraduate student

    Ellie

    Postgraduate

    777ӰԺ has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose 777ӰԺ for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

    Read more
    Postgraduate

Join the conversation