Professor Harbinder Sandhu

Warwick Medical School

“It was my dad who inspired me to explore how health and wellbeing had an impact on the human mind.”

“My dad was an athlete and bodybuilder. Very much into his fitness and obviously as a young girl, I looked up to him and was interested in everything he did. I didn’t know then what a psychologist was or what they did. But I knew that I wanted to find out more about the mind and human behaviour.

My first job was working as a researcher in the medical school, looking at ways to improve communication between the doctor and patient. I was really interested in the research but also wanted to develop myself as a psychologist and an academic. I did my master’s in health psychology and the rest is history! Taking a job as qualified psychologist in the NHS, I now had the best of both worlds. I was able to see people with long term pain in clinical practice and then had the opportunity to take part in world leading clinical trials here.

I’ve been very lucky to be able to combine both my passions and every day is different, which helps when you’ve been here for 21 years.

As you’d expect from someone who is interested in the human mind, I like to challenge mine. I’m into anything creative that will get the mind going in different ways. I love dancing, particularly Cuban Salsa. It’s a great way to express yourself but I just really like music and movement so any dancing will help your mindfulness. Also, my family will tell you differently and say I’m not very musical. But I’ve started to learn to play guitar and can now strum a few chords, It’s a start. I’ve also taken online lessons to learn the drums. Imagine how well that went down at home.

Even though I’ve always also had an interest in health and wellbeing my aim is to walk more. I’ve started to do that now around campus, we’re lucky to have so many natural spaces to explore. Although when I’m out with friends I’m always the first to suggest getting an Uber!”