A University of Manchester student who underwent epilepsy surgery at Salford Royal is helping shape the next generation of healthcare professionals by sharing her experience with trainee clinical psychologists.

Leilah and Dr Helen Caswell.

Leilah Applegarth, who is studying for a Postgraduate Diploma in Deaf Education in the Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, recently delivered a teaching session alongside her clinical neuropsychologist, Dr Helen Caswell, offering students a valuable insight into life from a patient’s perspective. The session was so well received that she has already been invited back to contribute again next year!

For Leilah, the opportunity represented a full-circle moment, after years of living with epilepsy and receiving care from a specialist team at Salford Royal Hospital, she found herself standing in front of future clinicians, helping them understand what healthcare looks like through the eyes of the people they support.

A life-changing decision

Leilah lived with epilepsy for many years before undergoing surgery in 2023. Despite trying 13 different medications, she continued to experience regular seizures that affected her memory, language and everyday life. Working closely with consultant neurologist Dr Rajeev Mohanraj, clinical neuropsychologist Dr Helen Caswell, epilepsy nurse Helen Coyle and neurosurgeon Mr Vivek Josan, among others, she spent years exploring treatment options before making the decision to proceed with surgery.

“All surgery is significant, but when it is your brain, you think carefully about every possible outcome,” she says. “I wanted to feel I had tried everything else first.”

A new chapter at Manchester

Recovery was a lengthy process, and Leilah took a year away from work as she adapted to life after surgery. During that time, she began thinking about the future and decided to pursue a long-held ambition of specialising in deaf education. Support from The University of Manchester’s Jennifer Gough Bursary enabled her to begin her studies.

Today, alongside her studies and work, Leilah regularly contributes her lived experience to help others. As well as speaking to trainee clinical psychologists, she has shared her story with healthcare professionals involved in epilepsy care, and with patients and families who are considering surgery themselves.

“What matters to me is giving back,” she explains. “I’ve been fortunate to have such incredible support throughout my journey. If sharing my experience helps someone feel less anxious, better informed or more understood, then it’s worth it.”

The value of lived experience

Leilah believes that healthcare education is stronger when students learn directly from people with lived experience.

“The clinical side is obviously essential, but hearing from patients adds something different,” she says. “It helps future clinicians understand what people are going through beyond the tests, appointments and treatments.”

As she works towards becoming a Teacher of the Deaf, Leilah remains committed to supporting students, healthcare professionals and future patients through sharing her experiences. Her story highlights the important role that patient voices can play in education, research and healthcare, demonstrating how lived experience can inform and improve future care.

Read Leilah’s blog post on beginning a new chapter in deaf education (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Student Blog).

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