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Last week I had the privilege of attending the 2026 Intersectionality Summer Intensive (ISI 2026) in Philadelphia, an inspiring week of learning, discussion and collaboration with researchers, practitioners and doctoral students from across the United States and beyond. It was an opportunity to step away from the everyday demands of research and immerse myself in new ideas to challenge my thinking and reflect on how intersectionality can strengthen the work we are doing through the WE CARE project (/cheme/we-care-womens-empowerment-cervical-screening-access-recovery-and-empathy). 

From the moment I arrived, there was a genuine sense of warmth and welcome. The ISI community is one built on curiosity, generosity and a shared commitment to tackling inequities and power disparities through better research. Whether during expert led learning sessions, networking over coffee (and amazing food!) or conversations at the end of the day, everyone was willing to share experiences, ideas and practical advice. The environment was set where learning was genuinely collaborative, with everyone encouraging one another to share ideas, ask questions and learn together. This spirit of openness has left a lasting impression. 

The Study venue itself provided an excellent setting for the week ). Located in the heart of Philadelphia, it offered welcoming spaces that encouraged learning, discussion and connection throughout the programme. The hospitality was exceptional, with every detail thoughtfully considered, and the food was a real highlight. From shared lunches that sparked new conversations to the memorable closing brunch!  Again, the warm welcome and generous hospitality reflected the inclusive spirit of the Summer Intensive and helped create a genuine sense of community.  Philadelphia is a city rich in history, culture and diversity. Visiting the historic landmarks and experiencing its vibrant atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for a week centred on understanding the complexities of identity, power and social justice. Of course, no visit to Philadelphia would have been complete without climbing the famous Rocky Steps (yes, I’m an 80s child!) outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made iconic by the Rocky films. I can confirm they look much easier on screen than they do after a week of intensive learning!

The programme itself was exceptional. The opening day introduced the Framework for Applied Intersectionality Research (FAIR), delivered by Professor Lisa Bowleg. Her ability to translate complex theory into practical research approaches was remarkable and immediately highlighted how intersectionality can move beyond being a theoretical concept to becoming a meaningful methodological approach.

A particular highlight was hearing Professor Dorothy Roberts speak on Reproductive Justice as Intersectional Praxis: Lessons from Uplifting Black Women. Her keynote was thoughtful, challenging and deeply engaging, encouraging us to consider reproductive justice through a truly intersectional lens. Afterwards, Professor Roberts generously took the time to meet every attendee during the signing of her new book, The Mixed Marriage Project, creating an atmosphere that was both personal and inspiring.

The second day focused entirely on qualitative intersectionality research. Through structured teaching and practical discussions, Professor Bowleg explored the foundations and application of qualitative approaches, encouraging us to think carefully about whose voices are heard, whose experiences remain hidden and how research methods themselves can either challenge or reinforce inequalities. 

The third day shifted towards quantitative intersectionality research, led by Professor Stephanie Cook. This was particularly valuable as much of my own work increasingly combines qualitative research with health economics and outcome evaluation. The sessions explored how quantitative methods can better capture intersecting inequalities, while mentoring sessions and networking opportunities provided practical advice from researchers who are actively applying these approaches within their own programmes of work. 

The day four mixed methods morning was undoubtedly my favourite session of the week. As someone working across qualitative research, social work and health economics, it resonated strongly with the interdisciplinary nature of the WE CARE project and offered practical ideas for integrating intersectionality throughout our research design, analysis and future economic evaluation. This Professor Bowleg-facilitated session explored how qualitative and quantitative approaches can complement one another to better understand the application of intersectional methodology to complex health and social issues. This reinforced that meaningful research often sits between disciplines rather than within a single methodological tradition.

The final day centred on community-engaged intervention development. Again, super relevant to my work as part of the WE CARE project, as we will aim to develop a compassionate care intervention for women who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. One of the most memorable sessions encouraged us to consider how our thinking had evolved throughout the week and how we would apply our learning to our own research. The closing session was a fitting end to an inspiring programme, celebrating not only what had been learned but also the new collaborations and friendships established throughout the week.

Throughout the week, one message remained constant: intersectionality is not simply about recognising multiple identities. It is about understanding how systems of power and inequity shape people's experiences, opportunities and outcomes. That message has significant implications for applied health and social care research.

For the WE CARE project, the learning has been invaluable. Our research seeks to improve compassionate cervical screening care for women affected by sexual violence and abuse, and intersectionality provides an important lens through which to understand why experiences differ between women. Women's experiences of screening are also shaped by factors such as ethnicity, disability, age, socioeconomic circumstances, sexuality, immigration status, rurality and access to services. Applying intersectionality more systematically will strengthen how we interpret women's experiences, co-produce future interventions and evaluate through multiple economic evaluation how improvements are reaching those who face the greatest barriers in accessing low-cost preventative healthcare. Integrating intersectionality into qualitative analysis, preference elicitation, implementation research and economic evaluations offers potentially new ways to understand equity, value and impact. As health and care economists increasingly seek approaches that move beyond average effects, intersectionality has much to contribute to understanding who benefits, who is left behind and why.

I return to beautiful Wales with new ideas; renewed enthusiasm and a growing international network of colleagues committed to advancing intersectionality research. I am incredibly grateful to Professor Lisa Bowleg and the entire ISI faculty for creating such an intellectually stimulating and welcoming environment, and to every member of the ISI 2026 cohort for their generosity, openness and willingness to learn together.

The week reminded me that some of the best research happens when we are willing to listen deeply, challenge our assumptions and embrace complexity. I look forward to bringing these insights into the next phase of the WE CARE project and continuing conversations with colleagues in Wales and internationally about how intersectionality can help us design more compassionate, equitable and effective health and social care.

Philadelphia was far more than the host city for the Summer Intensive. It was a place of learning, reflection, connection and inspiration, and one that I hope to return to in the future. One final confession: despite visiting Philadelphia, I didn’t sample the legendary Philly cheesesteak. Thankfully, the city's incredible plant-based food scene came to the rescue. A visit to the wonderfully quirky The Monster Vegan () was a definite highlight, proving that plant-based comfort food can be every bit as memorable as the local classic!

My sincere thanks for the wonderful support from ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ, Health and Care Research Wales and the NIHR.