PhD Bsc PGCHE, Reiki Master

Dr Marie Polley is Director of Marie Polley Consultancy, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Social Prescribing Network and past Chair of the British Society for Integrative Oncology. Marie trained as a biomedical scientist and has a PhD in molecular carcinogenesis of lung cancer.  Marie also trained in Reiki whilst completing her PhD and practised as a Reiki Master for many years. For the past 20 years, Marie has researched approaches to integrating different paradigms of health and wellbeing focussing on integrative oncology for many years but now taking a population health approach, within academia, the voluntary sector and as an independent consultant.

Marie is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Meaningful Measures Ltd which provides person centred outcome measures (MYCaW^Ⓡ and MYMOP^Ⓡ) to ensure a person’s voice is part of any consultation they have.  These tools are used internationally and are accredited by the NHS.  Marie is also a Visiting Reader at the University of East London.

Marie also co-founded the Social Prescribing Network, which has led a social movement around the use of medical activities to support people’s wider determinants of health and provide additional routes of support to traditional pharmaceutical prescribing.  Social Prescribing is now spreading throughout the UK and internationally.  Marie led the team to write the first national guidance, the first economic overview of social prescribing on health service usage and recently mapped all outcomes associated with social prescribing to support discussion on inclusive ways of researching and evaluating this growing field. Marie provides advice to senior leaders, Members of Parliament and the House of Lords and key stakeholders, researchers, TV and radio producers in this field.

“My research has shown that enabling a person who is experiencing cancer, and their family, to access support for all aspects of their wellbeing is fundamental to improving their outcomes.  Yes to Life has been one of the few charities who have enabled people to get access to evidence-based information that can support their wellbeing. It is a much needed oasis of support.”