Dr Kay Polidano is a medical sociologist with an interest in chronic illness, mental health, and health services. She is also passionate about global health and public involvement in research.

Kay has graduated with a B.A (Hons) in Sociology from the University of Malta. She then completed an M.Sc in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Amsterdam. Her Master's thesis was awarded a national prize by the Dutch Sociological Association in 2016. Straight after, Kay moved to the UK to pursue doctoral research focusing on the mental health needs of young people undergoing stoma surgery. She received her PhD from Keele University's School of Medicine in March 2020. She stayed at Keele for the next two years in the role of Lecturer in Global Health and Public Engagement, working primarily on a global health programme (ECLIPSE) seeking to reduce stigma and improve the patient journey of people with cutaneous leishmaniasis in underserved communities in Brazil, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka.

In 2022, Dr Polidano joined the Department of Sociology at the University of Malta, where she coordinates the MA in Health, Medicine and Society. She is currently a Co-Investigator on the Stoma Support Study, funded by the NIHR School of Primary Care Research (UK), which examines the identification and management of psychological distress among young people living with an IBD-related stoma. She is also a Co-Investigator on PERIFORMANCE, a Horizon-funded project that explores and seeks to transform stakeholder engagement in cancer research by addressing the ethical, legal, and societal implications of emerging cancer technologies.