(She/her) 2023 | MSc in Psychology at the University of Nottingham

Hello, I’m Maria. As a pharmacist with complex disabilities, I leverage my unique insights to bridge the gap in disability rights, from therapy access to resource allocation. My history is marked by socioeconomic challenges and disability-related barriers, and often, even survival seemed uncertain. Despite these overwhelming odds, I persevered, anchored by a singular conviction: I could bring about the change I wished to see and prevent others from enduring the pain I did.

This guiding vision propelled me to take on diverse roles in esteemed institutions such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, The Royal Society, and NHS Public Health Education. My journey has spanned instructional design, policy reform, clinical research, and advisory panel roles for the MEP (Medicines, Ethics, and Practice). Additionally, I advocate for disability representation through my work as a fiction writer.

This year, I’m pursuing a master’s in psychology to equip myself for deeper involvement in disability policy reform. This became a reality thanks to the transformative sponsorship of this trust. Looking ahead, I’m excited about pioneering research that merges pharmacy and psychology, focusing on innovative therapeutic solutions for pain management, CPTSD, and autism.