Dr Jon M Dickson

PG Cert, BSc (Hons), BMBCh, PhD, MRCGP

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Clinical Lecturer

Photo of John Dickson, Senior Clinical Lecturer
Profile picture of Photo of John Dickson, Senior Clinical Lecturer
j.m.dickson@sheffield.ac.uk
Room 3038a, Third Floor, Regent Court (ScHARR)

Full contact details

Dr Jon M Dickson
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room 3038a, Third Floor
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Profile

My first degree was a BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Sheffield. After graduating in 1996, I undertook a PhD investigating the cognitive and motor consequences of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (2000). In 2001, I was awarded a Lectureship at the University of Sheffield, where I taught neuroanatomy and continued my research using neuroimaging and neuropsychological techniques to study neurological disorders.  

In 2003 I began my medical studies at Magdalen College, Oxford. During this time I continued my research and scholarship into neurological disorders and medical education, and I was awarded the Apgar prize for teaching in 2006 by Magdalen College.  After receiving my MBChB in 2007, I started foundation training in the South Yorkshire Deanery, followed by GP training. 

In 2012, I became a member of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP). I took up a post as NIHR Clinical Lecturer in general practice at the University of Sheffield from 2012–2016, after which I became a Senior Clinical Lecturer within the Primary Care Research Group in the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR).

Research interests

My research at the University of Sheffield focuses on primary care, neuroscience and neurology.  

I am the author of 45 full-length papers in peer-reviewed journals, and 13 book chapters, reports, clinical practice guidelines and opinion pieces. I have also been an investigator on research grants worth over £5.5 million. 

I am joint Chief Investigator on the NIHR funded RADOSS project. I am an investigator within the primary care theme of the Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaborative (ARC), and I am the primary care lead in the Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) (EDI theme).  

My methodological expertise includes quantitative methods, qualitative methods, and evidence synthesis.

Publications

Journal articles

  • Johnson MJ, Wright-Hughes A, McNaught E, Hankin A, Clark J, McCormack T, Dickson JM, Foy R, Wilkes S, Meads DM , O’Dwyer JL et al (2025) . The Lancet Primary Care, 100031-100031.
  • Dickson JM, Kimaro A, Sxe Chang C & Hind D (2025) . BJGP Open.
  • Peacock M, Bissell P, Reuber M, Gray C, Grünewald R & Dickson JM (2025) . SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 8.
  • Lassa S, Burton C & Dickson JM (2025) . BJGP open, 9(1), BJGPO.2024.0074.
  • Dickson J, Kimaro A, Chang CS & Hind D (2025) . BJGP Open.
  • Windeatt-Harrison IL, Walker T, Bell SM, Blackburn D, Dickson JM, Jones S, Wardrope A & Reuber M (2024) . Research on Language and Social Interaction, 57(4), 399-416.
  • Cotterill CL, Booth A, Dickson JM & Hind D (2024) . BJGP Open, 8(4).
  • Noble AJ, Dixon P, Mathieson A, Ridsdale L, Morgan M, McKinlay A, Dickson J, Goodacre S, Jackson M, Morris B , Hughes D et al (2024) . Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 12(24), 1-120.
  • Noble AJ, Morris B, Dixon P, Mathieson A, Ridsdale L, Morgan M, Dickson J, Goodacre S, Jackson M, Hughes D , Marson A et al (2024) . Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, 118, 17-27.
  • Holmes E, Dixon P, Mathieson A, Ridsdale L, Morgan M, McKinlay A, Dickson J, Goodacre S, Jackson M, Foster D , Hardman K et al (2024) . Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, 118, 28-37.
  • Fox MN, Dickson JM, Burch P, Hind D & Hawksworth L (2024) . BJGP Open, 8(2).
  • Goodacre S, Sutton L, Ennis K, Thomas B, Hawksworth O, Iftikhar K, Croft SJ, Fuller G, Waterhouse S, Hind D , Stevenson M et al (2024) . Health Technology Assessment, 28(16), 1-93.
  • Noble AJ, Morris B, Bonnet LJ, Reuber M, Mason S, Wright J, Pilbery R, Bell F, Shillito T, Marson AG & Dickson JM (2024) . Epilepsy & Behavior, 151.
  • Peacock M, Bissell P, Ellis J, Dickson JM, Wardrope A, Grünewald R & Reuber M (2023) . Epilepsy and Behavior, 148.
  • Goodacre S, Sutton L, Thomas B, Hawksworth O, Iftikhar K, Croft S, Fuller G, Waterhouse S, Hind D, Bradburn M , Smyth MA et al (2023) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 40(11), 768-776.
  • Wardrope A, Bell S, Blackburn D, Dickson J, Reuber M & Walker T (2023) . Journal of Medical Ethics, 49(7), 493-494.
  • Dickson JM, Hilton A, Kelsall C & Cormack L (2023) . British Journal of General Practice, 73(730), 198-199.
  • Wigglesworth S, Neligan A, Dickson JM, Pullen A, Yelland E, Anjuman T & Reuber M (2023) . Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy, 105, 37-42.
  • Noble AJ, Mason SM, Bonnett LJ, Reuber M, Wright J, Pilbery R, Jacques RM, Simpson RM, Campbell R, Fuller A , Marson AG et al (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(11).
  • Peacock M, Dickson J, Bissell P, Grunewald R & Reuber M (2022) . Journal of Psychosocial Studies, 15(1), 36-51.
  • Clark J, Copsey B, Wright-Hughes A, McNaught E, Bijsterveld P, McCormack T, Foy R, Wilkes S, Dickson J, Meads D , Farrin A et al (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(5).
  • Burton C, Stone T, Oliver P, Dickson JM, Lewis J & Mason SM (2022) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 39(1), 3-9.
  • Goodacre S, Thomas B, Smyth M & Dickson JM (2021) . BMJ, 2021(375).
  • Quah MCH, Marney BC, Cooper RJ & Dickson JM (2021) . Clinical Case Reports, 9(7).
  • Andrews J, Weiner K, Will C, Henwood F & Dickson J (2020) . British Journal of General Practice Open (BJGP Open), 4(5).
  • Hughes-Gooding T, Dickson J, O'Keeffe C & Mason S (2020) . Emergency Medicine Journal, 37(10), 605-610.
  • Davies P, Reuber M, Grunewald R, Howell S, Dickson J, Dennis G, Shanmugarajah P, Tsironis T & Brockington A (2020) . Seizure, 79, 8-13.
  • O'Cathain A, Simpson R, Phillips M & Dickson J (2020) . British Journal of General Practice Open (BJGP Open), 4(2).
  • Mathieson A, Marson AG, Jackson M, Ridsdale L, Goodacre S, Dickson JM & Noble AJ (2020) . Seizure, 76, 156-160.
  • O'Cathain A, Knowles E, Dickson J, Long J, Connell J, Bishop-Edwards L, Simpson R, Coster J, Abouzeid L, Bennett S , Croot E et al (2020) . Health Services and Delivery Research, 8(15).
  • Noble AJ, Mathieson A, Ridsdale L, Holmes EA, Morgan M, McKinlay A, Dickson JM, Jackson M, Hughes DA, Goodacre S & Marson AG (2019) . BMJ Open, 9(11).
  • Dickson JM, Jacques RM, Reuber M, Hick J, Campbell MJ, Morley R & Grunewald RA (2018) . BMJ Open, 8(10).
  • Narice BF, Delaney B & Dickson JM (2018) . BMC Family Practice, 19.
  • Dickson JM (2018) The importance of GPs for people with epilepsy. Epilepsy Professional, 49, 20-25.
  • Dickson JM, Asghar ZB & Siriwardena AN (2018) . Seizure , 57, 38-44.
  • Dickson JM, Rawlings GH, Grünewald RA, Miles K, Mack C, Heywood T & Reuber M (2017) An alternative care pathway for suspected seizures in pre-hospital care: a service evaluation. British Paramedic Journal, 2(2), 22-28.
  • Dickson JM, Delaney B & Connor ME (2017) . J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 43(4), 296-301.
  • Dickson JM, Dudhill H, Shewan J, Mason S, GrÏ‹newald RA & Reuber M (2017) . BMJ Open, 7(7).
  • Dickson JM, Peacock M, Grünewald RA, Howlett S, Bissell P & Reuber M (2017) . BMJ Case Reports, 2017.
  • Dickson JM, Taylor LH, Shewan J, Baldwin T, Grünewald RA & Reuber M (2016) . BMJ Open, 6(2).
  • Dickson JM, Scott PA & Reuber M (2015) . SEIZURE-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EPILEPSY, 30, 26-31.
  • Osborne A, Taylor L, Reuber M, Grünewald RA, Parkinson M & Dickson JM (2015) . Seizure, 24, 82-87.
  • Dickson JM, Naylor G, Colver G, Powers HJ & Masters P (2014) . BMJ Case Reports, 2014.
  • Smithson WH, Hukins D, Buelow JM, Allgar V & Dickson JM (2013) Adherence to medicines and self-management of epilepsy: A community-based study. Epilepsy and Behavior, 26, 109-113.
  • Dickson JM, Harrington R & Carter MJ (2011) . Clin Teach, 8(1), 8-12.
  • Dickson JM, Warren DJ, Chapman ALN, Anoop U, Hayat H & Bhattacharya D (2010) . BMJ Case Rep, 2010.
  • Farrow TFD, Dickson JM & Grünewald RA (2006) . Pediatr Neurol, 35(4), 257-260.
  • Dickson JM, Wilkinson ID, Howell SJL, Griffiths PD & Grünewald RA (2006) . J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 77(7), 834-840.
  • Reynders HJ, Broks P, Dickson JM, Lee CE & Turpin G (2005) . Epilepsy Behav, 7(3), 419-429.
  • Dickson JM, Weavers HM, Mitchell N, Winter EM, Wilkinson ID, Van Beek EJR, Wild JM & Griffiths PD (2005) . Int J Sports Med, 26(6), 481-485.
  • Wilkinson ID, Hadjivassiliou M, Dickson JM, Wallis L, Grünewald RA, Coley SC, Widjaja E & Griffiths PD (2005) . J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 76(7), 1011-1013.
  • Dickson JM & Grunewald RA (2004) . PARKINSONISM RELAT D, 10(8), 487-492.
  • Wignall EL, Dickson JM, Vaughan P, Farrow TFD, Wilkinson ID, Hunter MD & Woodruff PWR (2004) . Biol Psychiatry, 56(11), 832-836.
  • Dickson JM, Weavers HM, Mitchell N, Winter EM, Wilkinson ID, VanBeek EJR & Griffiths PD (2003) . Neuroradiology, 45(12), 896-899.

Book chapters

  • Dickson J, Wilmer I, James C, Grunewald R, Siriwardena N, Reuber M, Wiles J & England E (2019) Convulsions in Adults In Brown SN, Kumar D, James C & Mark J (Ed.), United Kingdom Ambulance Services Clinical Practice Guidelines Bridgwater: Class Professional Publishing.

Conference proceedings

  • Norton AC, Twohig-Bennett C, Smeaton M, Marson A, Armstrong J, Kovac A, Ashby S, Cock H, Coxon A, Dickson JM , Fearon A et al (2025) . Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, Vol. 125 (pp 152-161). England
  • Dickson J, Grunewald R, Reuber M, Gray C, Peacock M, Bissell P, Carusi A & Bracken P (2020) . Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder: Metaphysics, Epistemology and Ontology, 18 October 2019.
  • Grunewald RA, Dickson JM, Hick J, Jacques R, Campbell M, Morely R & Reuber M (2018) . JNNP(Suppl 1) (pp A8-A8), 3 May 2017.
  • Dickson JM, Howell SJ, Griffiths P, Wilkinson I & Grunewald RA (2003) Memory performance and magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the temporal lobes in idiopathic generalised epilepsy. JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY, Vol. 74(10) (pp 1449-1450)

Reports

  • Dickson J (2023) A new tool for inclusive participation in primary care research
  • Campbell F, Sworn K, Booth A, Reuber M, Grunewald R, Mack C & Dickson J (2019) Epilepsy Specialist Nurses The Evidence (ESPENTE): a Systematic Mapping Review

Posters

  • Hughes-Gooding TA, Mason S, Dickson JM & Stone T (2017) Modelling the Flow of Seizure Patients in the Urgent and Emergency Care System. ILAE British Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting.
  • Dickson JM (2017) Can free association narrative interviews help to extend understandings of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. 3rd International Conference on Functional (Psychogenic) Neurological Disorders, 6-8 September 2017,.

Theses

  • Dickson J (2000) The neuropathology of Parkinson's disease : cognitive and motor consequences..

Presentations

  • Dickson J Primary/secondary care interface and care pathways in neurology, Neurology Service Managers network meeting.. Manchester.
  • Dickson JM, Simpson R, Jacques R, Ahmed N, Grunewald R, Reuber M & Mason S Exploring Discordance Between Epilepsy Prevalence and Age-Specific Admission Rates for Seizures. Sheffield.
  • Hughes-Gooding TH, Mason S, Dickson JM & Stone T Stone Modelling the Flow of Seizure Patients in the Urgent and Emergency Care System. Sheffield.
  • Dickson JM Emergency Health Services for Epilepsy, Plenary Presentation, ILAE British Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting. Leeds.

Other

  • Dickson J, Grunewald R, Reuber M, Gray C, Bracken P, Peacock M, Bissell P & Carusi A () .
Teaching activities

As a PhD student, I was a neuroanatomy demonstrator in the anatomy laboratory using cadaveric dissection. I was awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert) in 2000, and from 2001–2003 I was the lead for neuroanatomy teaching on both BSc and MBChB courses at the University of Sheffield. This involved delivering a BSc lecture module, leading cadaveric neuroanatomy classes for BSc students and Phase 1 medical students, and setting/marking examinations.  

I have published innovative work on peer teaching, won the Apgar prize for teaching (Magdalen, Oxford), taught and supervised medical students, GP trainees, MSc students, PhD students, and clinical academics trainees.  

I am the co-lead of Phase 2a Neurology of the MBChB course at the University of Sheffield, and I am working on the course wide curriculum review.

Professional activities and memberships

I work in the NHS as a GP and as Clinical Lead for Research at Primary Care Sheffield, where we work in partnership with academic and commercial organisations on research collaborations and research delivery projects. Since 2012 I have been Principal Investigator for over 30 studies, recruiting over 2,000 patients to research delivery projects including qualitative studies, interventional studies and randomised controlled trials.  

My research delivery work has included membership of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Yorkshire and Humber (Y&H) primary care steering group (2015-2021),  membership of the CRN’s national primary care strategy working group, and I currently lead two NIHR RRDN Y&H funded research clusters (groups of research active GP practices) in Sheffield.  This work builds capacity for NHS primary care research and develops the synergy between the NHS, Universities and the life sciences industry.

I have been involved in national NHS policy on epilepsy care for over 10 years. I was a member of the NICE epilepsy Guideline Development Group (2019-2022), I was the Chair of the Convulsions Guideline Development Group for the UK paramedics Clinical Guidelines (‘JRCALC’) in 2019 and a member of the group when the guidelines were revised in 2024. I was a member of Epilepsy Action’s Medical Advisory Board (2017-2023) and I have been a member of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) since 2018, an advisory group member for the NHS Right Care Epilepsy Toolkit  (2019-2020), a member of Clinical Working Group for epilepsy which was part of the Specialised Adult Neuroscience Transformation programme at NHS England (2018-2019), a Neurology Intelligence Collaborative member at Public Health England in 2019 and a National Neurology Advisory Group (NNAG) member, hosted by the Neurological Alliance, in 2018.

I have also been a member of the NIHR RfPB Y&H funding panel (2019 – 2022), a Clinical Advisor to the RCGP (2018 – 2021), plus an advisor or Peer Reviewer for the following journals, publications, and organisations: NICE, The King’s Fund, Seizure, the British Journal of General Practice, HS&DR (Health Services and Delivery Research, Health Technology Assessment) of the NIHR, HTA (Health Technology Assessment programme) of the NIHR, the Palliative and Supportive Care journal, the Map of Medicine, RCGP e-learning package for motor neurone disease (in association with the MND association).  I have been a member of the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC), and was a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) since I qualified (2012-2024).