Dr Barbara Hauser, Consultant Rheumatologist 

Dr Barbara Hauser is a Consultant Rheumatologist based in Edinburgh, with a specialist interest in osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. She graduated from the Medical University of Vienna (Austria) and completed her postgraduate training in Southwest England and Scotland. Her interest into bone research and osteoimmunology started and stayed in Edinburgh under the supervision of Stuart Ralston. Her PhD focused on osteoporosis risk prediction in rheumatoid arthritis and the role of autoantibodies in accelerated bone loss in rheumatic diseases. Her current research interests include real-world evidence for osteoporosis treatments and the effects of anti-rheumatic therapies, such as methotrexate on bone health. She is actively involved in clinical research on anabolic therapies for osteoporosis, pregnancy-associated osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone and novel therapeutics in inflammatory arthritis. 

Dr Peter Gillett, Retired Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist 

Dr Peter Gillett is a retired Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist and worked at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh until July 2025. Dr Gillett's career has spanned the era of capsule biopsy starting in 1990 and after appointment, he helped set up the NHS Lothian paediatric coeliac service in 2001.  Dr Gillett has worked with many dietitians interested in coeliac disease over the last 25 years, including the establishment of a Dietetic led paediatric service in 2019. Dr Gillett was involved in the development of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline ‘coeliac disease: recognition, assessment and management (NG20)’ in 2015, the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) 2020 and 2022 follow-up guidelines for children and young people, the Test of Change project, and the new adult British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Coeliac disease guidelines due to be published in 2026. For over 15 years Dr Gillett has been a regular advisor to Coeliac UK as a member of their Health Advisory Council.

Dr Helen Gillett, Consultant Adult Gastroenterologist 

Dr Helen Gillett is an Adult Gastroenterologist at St John’s Hospital Livingston and is the former medical lead for the NHS Lothian coeliac service. Dr Gillett was member of the Scottish Government Test of Change Group which led to the development of the Scottish dietitian-led coeliac pathway and is a member of Coeliac UK’s Health Advisory Council. Dr Gillett’s work in Lothian was integral to the establishment of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) interim COVID guidance in 2020 promoting a safe no-biopsy strategy in the UK. Dr Gillett is also a member of the BSG group looking at new guidance for the UK.  

Victoria MacDonald, Advanced Practice Occupational Therapist and Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner 

Victoria is an occupational therapist with over 25 years’ experience working within the NHS.  Working within Rheumatology, Victoria provides a service to the whole of NHS Highland.  Victoria is passionate about holistic care and as an accredited Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner, she integrates this approach into her NHS work to support patient wellbeing. 

 Dr Stelios Psycharakis, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Aqua Steps Project   

Dr Psycharakis is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the University of Edinburgh and the Principal Investigator of the Aqua Steps project on falls prevention for frail older adults. Dr Psycharakis’ interest in sport and exercise started at a young age. Born in Crete and surrounded by the sea, Dr Psycharakis took up swimming as a teenager and represented Greece at international competitions. He still seizes every chance of splashing around, from snorkelling with his parents, to squeezing in a few lengths at the pool during his kids’ swim classes. Much of Dr Psycharakis’ early research has been on performance swimming, but nowadays he focuses primarily on how aquatic exercise can help reduce injury and illness and improve health and rehabilitation. Key research topics include falls prevention, treatment and management of back pain, and overuse injuries in swimming.  

Becca Freeden, Physiotherapist and PhD Candidate 

Becca is a Physiotherapist with specialist experience in pelvic health and rehabilitation, and she enjoys looking at the whole picture to help people establish lifelong exercise habits. She is working towards a PhD, which explores bone health in perimenopause, a time of life when bone density is known to reduce. The focus of her PhD is to explore lifestyle in perimenopause and the barriers to making positive lifestyle changes. Her PhD explores how working in a group with peer support and input from multiple disciplines impacts the individual's perimenopause experience.

Sue O'Neill-Berest, Food Education Manager

Sue has been the Food Education Manager at Cyrenians for past 8 years, a third sector organisation that tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness. Sue has over 20 years of experience within the food industry as a chef after completing training at Leith’s School of Food & Wine in London. Sue holds an MSc Professional & Higher Education from QMU; BSc honours from the Open University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Sue has responsibility for the daily running of the Cyrenians Flavour & Haver Cook school in Leith teaching people of all ages to cook, menu plan & budget with an emphasis on improving nutrition. The team utilise the power of food to nourish bodies, provide wellbeing and build community cohesiveness and resilience.

Inma Montero and Danielo Olivera

Jamie Millar, fitness professional and educator 

Jamie is a fitness professional, educator, and nutrition graduate with nearly a decade of experience working in the health and fitness industry. Based at Queen Margaret University Sports Centre in Edinburgh, Jamie works as a fitness instructor, educator, and personal trainer supporting students, staff, and members of the public to develop safe, effective exercise habits that promote long-term health and wellbeing. 

Draft as at February 2026.

Location and Getting Here

We are delighted to be hosting the Lydia X Osteoporosis Symposium at Queen Margaret University Campus. The campus is easily accessible whether you are travelling by bike, on foot, by public transport, or by car.

QMU campus is located close to Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh city centre. The best way to access the campus is through public transport or walking/cycling. We have Musselburgh train station at our front door and bus services stopping on campus. National Cycle Route 1 provides direct access via active travel. Vehicular access can only be gained from the A1.

Sustainability is a key element of the campus's design, and we further encourage it with a Green Travel Policy. Staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to travel sustainably, and car parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

If you need to travel by car, please ensure you add your registration number when booking your place at our symposium.  Please note spaces are not guaranteed and are only subject to availability. If you do not provide your car registration in advance, you will be required to pay the daily parking fee of £6. 

We have included some details below to help you find us. 

Get to QMU by public transport 

Get to QMU by Bike or Foot

Get to QMU by car

If you have any questions, please contact events@qmu.ac.uk