Alfonso Pezzella is Lecturer in Mental Health at Middlesex University. Alfonso joined Middlesex University in 2012 and currently works in Department of Mental Health, Social Work and Integrative Medicine within the School of Health and Education.
Alfonso teaches on a variety of topics including research methods, SPSS, mental health, LGBT issues and transcultural issues in health. Alfonso is currently working on a European project (IENE 5) led by Professor Irena Papadopoulos (Middlesex University) and five other European countries, which aims to develop a MOOC in Intercultural Communication Skills and Patient Safety. He is also working on various research projects on LGBT inclusion in the curriculum in health and social care and LGBT and mental health.
Alfonso is chair of Sexuality and the Social Work International Interest Group. The group encourages international collaborations in social work research, education and practice developments in the field of gender, sexuality, sexual identity and LGBT+ issues.
Alfonso has a professional Twitter feed @AlfPezzella where he enjoys bringing the community together and discussing topics regarding mental health, LGBT, psychology and education. You can also follow Alfonso on ResearchGate for his latest publications.
Qualifications
Membership of Professional Bodies
English (Fluent)
Italian (Mother tongue)
Spanish (Conversational)
Programme Leadership
Module Leadership
Taught modules
Teaching Interests
Alfonso is currently working and leading on a large-scale european project funded by Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership, along with six other European countries. The project, Developing a culturally competent and compassionate LGBT+ curriculum in health and social care education aims to enhance knowledge and raise awareness of LGBT+ issues to enable health educators to develop teaching tools to support the inclusion of LGBT+ issues within health and social care curricula. (IENE 9)
Alfonso is also working on a number of small scale projects on LGBT+ issues in health and social care and BAME studies.
Research interests
Higgins, Agnes and Downes, Carmel and Sheaf, Greg and Bus, Elisa and Connell, Sandra and Hafford-Letchfield, Trish and Jurček, Anže and Pezzella, Alfonso and Rabelink, Irma and Robotham, George and Urek, Mojca and van der Vaart, Nina and Keogh, Brian (2019) Pedagogical principles and methods underpinning education of health and social care practitioners on experiences and needs of older LGBT+ people: findings from a systematic review. Nurse Education in Practice , 40 . ISSN 1471-5953 (Published online first)
Foley, Laura and Dadzie, Lawrence K. and Pezzella, Alfonso and Lambert, Nicky (2019) Exploring the educational experience of culturally and linguistically diverse students in Higher Education. Preliminary findings from a small scale project. In: 6th International European Transcultural Nursing Association Conference, 19-21 Jun 2019, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Pezzella, Alfonso and Papadopoulos, Irena (2019) The development of a knowledge hub to support and provide culturally competent and compassionate psychological support for refugees in Europe. In: 6th International Conference of the European Transcultural Nursing Association, 19-21 Jun 2019, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
Hafford-Letchfield, Trish and van der Vaart, Nina and Rabelink, Irma and Bus, Elisa and Pezzella, Alfonso and O'Connell, Sandra and Higgins, Agnes and Keogh, Brian and Urek, Mojca and Jurček, Anže and Robotham, George (2019) BEING ME: Promoting best practices in LGBT ageing care through inclusive professional and vocational education. In: International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Region Congress 2019, 22-25 May 2019, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hafford-Letchfield, Trish and Pezzella, Alfonso and O'Connell, Sandra and van der Vaart, Nina and Rabelink, Irma and Bus, Elisa and Higgins, Agnes and Keogh, Brian and Robotham, George and Urek, Mojca and Jurček, Anže (2019) BEING ME: Project report on best practices in learning and education to support LGBT ageing care and wellbeing. Project Report. BEING ME Erasmus Plus, London, Netherlands, Dublin, Lubjiliana.
European Grants Awards
Small-scale grants
Grant awarded to Pezzella, A., Foley, L. and Dadzie, L.
Middlesex University
October 2016 – July 2017;
MADD – Making a Difference through Diversity
Principal Investigator
Grant awarded to Pezzella, A. and Papadopoulos, I.
Middlesex University
April 2016 – July 2015;
Cultural competence and LGBT
Principal Investigator
Professional Roles and Activities
Other Professional Practice and KT Activities
Alfonso is the lead organiser for KT seminars in the Department of Mental Health, Social Work and Integrative Medicine, where he organises monthly evening seminar to disseminate the research undertaken in the department and involve colleagues from other disciplines, students and the local community.
