Mr Joel Petch

About

Joel is a senior lecturer, and the academic lead for year two, within the Kent and Medway Medical School. Joel is a graduate of King’s College London, where he studied neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Joel is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy [FHEA] [Advance HE] and also holds membership with the Academy of Medical Educators [MAcadMEd]. In addition, Joel is an External Examiner for the BMedSci programme at the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine.

Research interests

Joel's PhD is exploring the impact of circadian disturbance upon neuroanatomical structures. The study utilises a portable ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging [ULF-MRI] device to record regional volumetric and connective measures of brain structure; and to assess the relationship between regional brain volume and cognitive processing. The project will draw comparisons between a healthy cohort and those with a diagnosis of a psychotic illness.

Teaching

Joel lectures extensively across the system-based modules in years one and two of the BMBS programme; these activities focus upon a mixture of a neuroanatomy, physiology, and neuroscience. Joel's interests include- but are not limited to- the impact of chronic stress upon the brain, the relationship between physical and mental ill health, psychoneuroimmunology, and psychopharmacology.

Professional

Bolton, L., & Petch, J. (2025). Non-pharmacological interventions to tackle delirium in elderly hospitalised patients? A scoping review. Advanced Journal of Professional Practice, 5(1), 88. https://doi.org/10.22024/UniKent/03/ajpp.1287

Huda, A. and Petch, J. (2022) “Too soon to discard Kraepelin: improving diagnosis by appropriate use of neo-Kraepelinian and unitary psychosis models,” BJPsych Advances. Cambridge University Press, pp. 1–10. doi: 10.1192/bja.2022.53.

Hufton, F., Petch, J., and Rege, S. (2020) ‘Ten point guide to mental state examination (MSE) in psychiatry’, Psych Scene Hub, [Online], https://psychscenehub.com/psychinsights/ten-point-guide-to-mental-state-examination-mse-in-psychiatry/

Petch, J. and Huda, S. (2020) ‘Is it time to move on from the term ‘schizophrenia’?’, Psychreg, [Online], https://www.psychreg.org/term-schizophrenia/

Petch, J., and Joyce, D.W. (2020) 'When schizophrenia isn't schizophrenia', Expert Comment, [Online], https://blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/expertcomment/when-schizophrenia-isnt-schizophrenia/