Yesterday I packed up the last things from my desk, and today it's time for a brand new job. This last round, I only spent five months at Karolinska Institutet (KI), but on the other hand, I've been there on and off for the past 17 years. No matter how I turned round, it was like 'all roads lead to KI'. But now I really want to do something new! Or yes, I won't completely let go of KI ...
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From occupational therapist ...
"In 1997, I started studying occupational therapy at the School of Health and Welfare in Stockholm, and after about a year what was called the 'School of Health and Welfare' disappeared and the programme was included in the Karolinska Institute. That was the first time I was sucked into KI, but not the last, so to speak.
I worked for a year as an occupational therapist in psychiatry at Huddinge Hospital, and then I started working at a treatment centre in addiction care, far out in the woods in Östertälje. It was a special and interesting time, but I felt that seeing patients all day long wasn't really my thing, so I decided to continue my studies.
... to public health scientist
I discovered that KI had a master's programme for public health scientists, which could be added on top of any bachelor's programme (nurse, occupational therapist, economist or whatever). Perfect! I studied two more years and chose the specialisation "public health nutrition and physical activity".
As soon as I finished, I got a project position at the "Centre for Public Health" in the Stockholm County Council. My task was to design a project to promote good eating and exercise habits among adults with intellectual disabilities.
And Back to KI
All of a sudden, the politicians decided that the "Centre for Public Health" would not exist, and that the county's public health work would be run by KI. So back to KI - both organisationally and geographically. And while I was there, it was just as well to do a doctorate, wasn't it?
I applied for funding to implement and research a larger project to promote good eating and exercise habits for adults with intellectual disabilities. In the autumn of 2014, I defended my dissertation. Health promotion for adults with intellectual disabilities: Evaluation of a multi-component intervention in community residences.
County Council - 1 year journey - KI again
The politicians in the county can never quite make up their minds, so in 2012 they came up with the idea that public health work should perhaps be in the county council anyway ... My position was moved back to the county council, to a centre that now had the much more complicated name "Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine".
After graduating in 2014, we decided to realise our big dream of spending a year travelling around Europe in our camper van and I took a leave of absence. I first got 6 months of leave and then another 3 months... but then I had the choice of resigning or cancelling the trip. Cancel the trip? No way!
Even before we came home, I was offered a project position ... at KI. And when it ended, I was offered a new one. For the last six months, I've actually been sitting in the same room that I had as a permanent employee at the county council a year earlier - because it had become vacant ...
New job today
But yesterday I packed up and left KI, and today it's time for a new job. Now it is the Stockholm County Council and I will work on implementing a policy for participation for people with disabilities. Exciting, challenging and important!
But what about KI? In fact, this time I'm not leaving completely ... I'm still affiliated with KI as a researcher and remain in the research group "Societal Nutrition and Physical Activity". But whether I stay at KI or not, it's time for a new job!
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Solan says:
Yes, you are very much needed. An important area to develop and monitor. Having always worked in the private sector, I am amazed at all the changes that politicians can bring about. More or less competent ones. Good luck in your new job, with your energy and knowledge you are the right person. Oops!
01 February 2017 - 6:22
Lennart says:
Good luck with your new job!
01 February 2017 - 7:04
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wow, what a background! It's great to work on something so inspiring and important. Not many jobs are so important, I would say.
Good luck with new challenges!
Hug Lena
01 February 2017 - 7:10
åsa in åsele says:
Good luck with your new job.
Fun with new challenges and a new job ðŸ™'
01 February 2017 - 7:22
Johnny Friskilä says:
Good luck, I say! Exciting day today!
01 February 2017 - 7:31
admin says:
Solan, yes, changes are sometimes needed, of course, but every time politicians make a change, things get messy, unstable and inefficient for a while. Then it must be worth it! Sometimes it feels like they make changes a bit too easily, perhaps ...
Lennart, thank you!
Lena, thank you! It will be exciting! I really hope that I will be able to contribute something good!
Åsa in Åsele, thank you! Yes, it will be exciting!
Johnny, thank you! Yes, it feels exciting! It's been a long time since I started a completely new job in this way.
01 February 2017 - 7:46
Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:
You are needed. Your energy and experience are such necessary ingredients even in the newest work.
01 February 2017 - 7:50
Across the board says:
Good luck!
01 February 2017 - 9:10
Ditte says:
I wish you good luck in your new job and all the knowledge and experience you will take with you.
And KI is still there and you still have your foot in the door.
Remember your defence with great joy and interest!
01 February 2017 - 9:15
Ama de casa says:
Exciting - good luck! 🙂
However, KI seems to be a magnet for you... 😉.
01 February 2017 - 9:33
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Good luck with your new position
01 February 2017 - 9:56
Goatfish says:
Challenge after challenge, exciting!
I wish you good luck with your new job and the foot you have left at KI 😀.
01 February 2017 - 10:02
Marina says:
That sounds very exciting! Good luck!
01 February 2017 - 10:07
Nilla says:
Good luck!
01 February 2017 - 11:20
Anette says:
KI seems to have you in an iron grip ?
Good luck with your new job
01 February 2017 - 11:38
Lena in Wales says:
Good luck with your new job!
01 February 2017 - 11:47
Petra says:
Good luck with your new challenge! Sounds very exciting and interesting... You will do a great job.
Hugs/Petra
01 February 2017 - 12:58
gun says:
Good luck with your new job! It will be exciting to follow you and see what happens.
gun
01 February 2017 - 13:01
Ikas USA says:
What an exciting background! Good luck with your new job! 🙂
01 February 2017 - 13:49
LinizTravel says:
Good luck 🙂 how exciting hugs!
01 February 2017 - 14:06
BP says:
Important, exciting and something completely new after 17 years. I wish you good luck and hope you will enjoy your new job. Imagine that a refused leave of absence can have such unexpected and positive consequences. I hope you report back on how your first day at your new job went.
01 February 2017 - 14:20
Anja says:
I agree with everyone else, of course... P.S. Note that you didn't post a picture of the view from the room.
Gneff Gneff!
01 February 2017 - 15:46
Husis blog says:
Really nice to be able to move on, even if KI has caught you in the net over time...? It will be exciting to hear how you get on at your new job.
Good luck in your new job!
PS. How is my mate FREEDOM doing? DS.
01 February 2017 - 16:27
Mr Steve says:
You have to dare to win. I agree with you that this is an exciting, challenging and important job you are starting. It is an area where both greater efforts and significant new thinking are needed.
Good luck with your new job!
01 February 2017 - 17:47
Lena says:
INSPIRING with a change of job and now a new job WELCOME ?
01 February 2017 - 18:12
Matts Torebring says:
I get the feeling that you don't want to stay still, you want to continue to develop, in new challenges. Free to a new job with certainly new challenges.
01 February 2017 - 18:29
admin says:
Many, many THANKS for all the good wishes!!!
Seija, yes, I think both energy and experience will be needed! Hope I can contribute with something good!
Ditte, it was so nice that you came to my defence! 🙂 And yes, KI is still there. I will also have one foot left because of the connection,
Ama de casa, indeed! I've always bounced back in some way, haha.
Petra, I will do my best! 🙂
Gun, I will make sure to report from time to time, even if it is not the main focus of the blog.
BP, right? Sometimes you need to somehow get a kick in the arse to start looking for something new! 😉
Anja, I actually have some old pictures of the nice view that used to be ... before a big house suddenly grew up .... 😉
Husisblogg, the garage has not heard from us yet, so FREEDOM is still there. Since we don't have winter tyres on, we don't call and nag either. We don't mind if it takes another month, so to speak ... 😉.
Steve, it's a challenge but I hope to contribute something good!
Matts, new challenges are stimulating! 🙂
01 February 2017 - 18:38
Eva - People in the Street says:
Good luck ?
01 February 2017 - 19:38
Role o Carina says:
Yes, they say you should change jobs every 5 years, I've heard!
What can I say, 41 years in May in the same place! 🙂
But it won't be many more years....:-)
Take care and congratulations....
01 February 2017 - 19:43
Johanna in Skåne says:
Hope you had a good day at your new job! Lying on a friend's couch in the centre of Gothenburg after a good day at my one job?
01 February 2017 - 20:18
Ruth in Virginia says:
Helena - I am filled with admiration for you.
It was fascinating to read about your 'road' to it and where you are today.
You have a goal and you don't wait for "tomorrow".
to start. For me, it is the first step that is difficult
to take. I have heard that I have inherited, from my father's side, a certain...
laziness. They were 10 children, and I have seen evidence of said "vice".
in some cases, (my own), and I see it in one of my children too.
Fortunately, my mum was the opposite.
Another thing I admire is your stamina/endurance. You give
don't give up once you've decided on a goal. I have the tendency to
start something, but then I let it fizzle out. Ambition is something
I don't have. - If I had been born later, I believe I would have
became a journalist. I've always liked writing, and I'm also a writer.
very curious and easy to socialise with all kinds of people.
It will be interesting to see how you combine work and blogging.
Good luck!
01 February 2017 - 21:14
Cattis says:
Congratulations on your new and exciting job, sounds really fun. Also interesting to know a bit more about your work history!:)
01 February 2017 - 21:37
Camilla says:
Good luck, I hope the start of the new job goes well! I am satisfied with the first day at my new job. I have learned to find my room, the break room and the toilet, and I have learnt some names... :A good start! 🙂
01 February 2017 - 22:01
admin says:
Eva, thank you!!!
Rolle and Carina, 41 years in the same place was not bad! Changing jobs sometimes has its advantages, but if you enjoy it, it's great to stay!
Johanna, it would be great to hear and/or see you on occasion!!!! Yes, the first day was excellent, although I got very tired ... 😉 .
Ruth in Virginia, are you sure you are really "lazy"? Doesn't it depend on whether you are motivated for something or not? I think we humans are naturally lazy in many situations, and often choose the easiest path. Then you can sometimes (for various reasons) be very motivated for something ... Journalist I think would have suited you! 🙂
Kattis, thank you very much!
Camilla, thank you! It's been great, but boy am I tired 😉 Finding the break room, the toilet and learning some names is not a bad start! All that takes a lot of energy, I have noticed ... 😉.
02 February 2017 - 7:41
Anna, New York - My Bite of the Big Apple says:
Such an amazingly important contribution you have made and are making, with your background and education. Interesting to hear about all the steps!
I wish you the best of luck in your new job.
03 February 2017 - 20:55