I (Helena) will start a new job after the end of the year. Although this is mainly a travel blog, I thought I would tell you a little about what I do when I'm not travelling. Today I tell you about what I studied and where I worked. I offer a little insight into my everyday world, which has involved everything from research at Karolinska Institutet to issues of eating habits, physical activity, disability, accessibility and health equality.
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9 years of study at Ki
I have studied at Karolinska Institutet (KI) in three rounds. I am an occupational therapist and then studied public health science with a focus on nutrition and physical activity. When I did my doctorate, I wrote my thesis on a methodology to promote good eating and exercise habits among adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Leg. occupational therapist 1997-2000 (3 years, graduate level)
- Public Health Sciences 2003-2005 (2 years, Master's level)
- Doctor of Public Health 2011-2014 (4 years, postgraduate level)
My previous jobs
I worked for three years as an occupational therapist in psychiatry. During these years I worked at Huddinge University Hospital, at the eating disorder clinic in Huddinge and at a treatment centre for dual diagnosis patients (psychiatry and addiction) in Östertälje. After this, I decided to study public health and since then I have had two main employers: Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet.
My years in the County Council
During my years in the County Council, there have been many reorganisations. I started at the "Centre for Public Health" in 2005. A few years later, the county's public health work was transferred to Karolinska Institutet (which is a state university) and I was given KI as my employer.
A few more years later they changed their minds and we had to move back to the county council, but now the centre changed its name to the (much more complicated) "Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine" (CES).
At CES, I had a permanent position until we got the crazy (?) idea to go Around Europe in a motorhome for a year. Then I didn't come back to the county council until this year, when I started working in the county council administration, as a strategist in the field of disability.
My years at KI
I was employed at KI, at the Department of Public Health Sciences, between 2009 and 2012. During this time, I also took a leave of absence from that particular department to pursue a PhD at another department at KI. Between 2011 and 2014, I was employed as a PhD student at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society.
When I came back from our motorhome trip, I took up a project position at KI and worked there throughout 2016. Now I remain as an adjunct in the research group Community nutrition and physical activity.
Why change jobs now?
I now work in the County Council's sustainability department, where we not only deal with environmental issues, but also social sustainability issues. We work at a strategic level (policy documents, monitoring, networks, consultative support, cooperation with interest groups, etc.) on issues relating to equality, gender equality, children's rights, national minorities and disability.
We target whole Stockholm County Council, which includes everything from healthcare to public transport, culture and regional planning. Around 45 000 people work in this huge organisation. plus all those who work in private organisations on behalf of the County Council. Through our activities, we meet over two million inhabitants who, for example, visit health centres or hospitals, travel by bus or metro, visit the concert hall (which is mainly financed by the county council) or move around the region ...
The funny thing is that while the other areas are represented by permanent posts, the disability area started as a project in 2017. The plan was to make the position permanent, but due to cutbacks, changes in management and an organisation with long decision-making processes, a decision has simply not been made yet.
Unfortunately, I don't know how the county council will organise the strategic work on participation and accessibility for people with disabilities after the end of December 2017. The only thing I know is that I cannot wait any longer for an answer.
New job from the beginning of the year
I've been sitting on my hands all autumn and haven't applied for any jobs. When I recently received a request for a project position starting in January 2018, I realised I couldn't refuse. Fortunately, it sounds like a fun new job! I will work on the evaluation of a method for how school nurses can talk to children and adolescents about obesity and will, among other things, interview children, adolescents, parents and school nurses.
Where is the job located? I'm going back to the Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine (CES)... The project is only for six months, but it could be good for us. We are planning to go on a longer campervan trip again. Not a whole year this time, but a few months. You're coming along, right?
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Anna, New York - My Bite of the Big Apple says:
Congratulations, this sounds like a really interesting and fun project position! Such an important endeavour to work with children and young people. You certainly have an impressive background and track record.
So exciting about the planned motorhome trip too.
Good luck with everything!
10 December 2017 - 6:53
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Yes, it will be really fun to work on this project. Feels important! And of course it will be fun to plan the motorhome trip too 🙂 .
10 December 2017 - 10:23
Marina says:
That sounds absolutely perfect! Partly because it sounds like a very interesting area to work with and partly because it must be perfect with that time perspective. Congratulations!
10 December 2017 - 9:44
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Yes, right now it feels quite nice to have a project position. Otherwise, I would have liked to negotiate some leave of absence, but that's not always easy to achieve.
10 December 2017 - 10:24
Nils-Åke says:
Congratulations on that!
10 December 2017 - 9:53
Helena says:
Thank you! 🙂
10 December 2017 - 10:24
4000mil says:
Excited about a new job. And exciting with a new long journey!
10 December 2017 - 9:59
Helena says:
Yes, a lot of things that are exciting now 😉
10 December 2017 - 10:24
Ama de casa says:
It is terribly bad that they can not squeeze out a message! But no evil that has no good with it (to use a cliché) - that project position sounds both fun and is absolutely perfect in time.
Congratulations! 🙂
PS: That's a really solid education and track record you have! Yes, yes, yes. I know it's called a CV now... 😉.
10 December 2017 - 10:04
Helena says:
Yes, isn't it? Absolutely hopeless that I couldn't get an answer ... This is not on my immediate bosses, but it is higher up in the organisation that the decision should have been made ... And thank you! 🙂
10 December 2017 - 10:26
Anja says:
Great Helena! ... and for six months you might be able to cope with the messy organisation of CES when you have a trip coming up!
10 December 2017 - 10:06
Helena says:
Yes, I am sure of that! 🙂 It's also a bit different when you go into a limited project and mainly focus on it. So I hope it will be good!
10 December 2017 - 10:26
Role o Carina says:
Congratulations on a new job in these times!
I've been in the same place for over 41 years.
But soon it will be coming to an end 🙂 .
Take care.......Best of luck
10 December 2017 - 10:37
Helena says:
Thank you very much! If you like the same place, it's perfect to be able to stay there for a long time! Have fun!
10 December 2017 - 16:17
Lena & Jan says:
Your CV :-0 does not grow on trees, nor does your curriculum vitae! CONGRATULATIONS to the project that fortunately parries your life ? Would be wasted skills to give you a permanent position in such an important and broad area of knowledge that you possess ... Perhaps a way to start your own should give you the inspiring opportunity to reach out to all Swedish county councils / municipalities who then have to buy (courses / lectures with the knowledge of the research results ... they should appoint a person as a contact person for you to further reach out in the country with this important science ... (Sorry, now the brain went crazy, on me Lena, you know me 😉 But surely you must have thought the thoughts?
10 December 2017 - 11:33
Helena says:
But oh, thank you for such a nice and inspiring comment! 🙂 I have well touched on the idea of working through my own company sometimes, but not quite simple either with all the procurement rules in the public sector, etc. But there are many other benefits and maybe it can be a possibility in the future. Wish you a really nice weekend!
10 December 2017 - 16:20
GlobetrotterElisa says:
Congratulations on your new job! How exciting with a new motorhome journey! Can't wait to hear which destinations you will visit 🙂 Wishing you both a Merry Christmas!
10 December 2017 - 11:47
Helena says:
Thank you!!! The destinations are not nailed down yet, but we're aiming to find gems in Europe where we haven't been yet 🙂.
10 December 2017 - 16:21
åsa in åsele says:
So happy for you, it's great that you know you have a job after Christmas!
Exciting with a new long trip 🙂
Nice to know more about you and your education/professional life.
Have a nice 2nd Advent
10 December 2017 - 11:58
Helena says:
Yes, it's nice to finally know what to do after Christmas. It is not so far until then ... Wishing you also a continued nice 2nd Advent!
10 December 2017 - 16:22
Lena - good for the soul says:
Congratulations on your new job! It sounds like a valuable job!
Hug Lena
10 December 2017 - 14:10
Helena says:
Thank you very much! I hope I will be able to contribute something good in that job! 🙂
10 December 2017 - 16:22
Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers says:
What fun with a new job, congratulations! And fun with a new motorhome trip 🙂
10 December 2017 - 14:39
Helena says:
Thank you so much Helena! And yes, when we travel with a motorhome we are probably the happiest so we look forward to it 🙂.
10 December 2017 - 16:23
Across the board says:
Congratulations on your new job! It sounds exciting and is perfect if you are going on a longer trip again!
10 December 2017 - 16:39
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Yes, we feel that it fits well with a six-month job right now. Motorhome life attracts 🙂
10 December 2017 - 16:46
BP says:
Congratulations on the new job! Definitely the right decision to take the offer, especially since you want to get back on the road! With your background and experience, you will never have a problem finding a new job.
However, it is unfortunate that the cuts are once again affecting disabled people, the group in society that needs the most support.
PS. Remember your defence in 2014, time really flies... DS.
10 December 2017 - 16:46
Helena says:
Thank you so much BP! I will manage, but I agree with you. What upsets me most about this is that the county council (a huge organisation) doesn't want to put any resources into this. Absolutely crazy actually. A large part of the population has some kind of disability. In addition, there may be problems even reaching and fulfilling the legislation, when no one has been given the task of keeping track of the area. I get upset, but for my own sake I had to accept another job.
10 December 2017 - 16:49
Ditte says:
Congratulations on your new job! And I think that most things work out if you have a little ice in your stomach ... Seems to be an exciting challenge and all the work with those who have functional disorders is so important. Strange that no one responsible has understood this. But it's nothing new, unfortunately.
This was also the case a long time ago, when I worked with children with multiple disabilities in the 90s and early 2000s.
Nice to "live" in premises at Karlberg Castle. Beautiful environment and where I was at home when we moved to Stockholm in 1959.
Fun with a new longer motorhome trip and of course I'm coming along.
10 December 2017 - 18:13
Helena says:
Thank you very much! It is indeed strange that the importance of this is not recognised. In this case, it is even more important, because it concerns all people who have some form of disability. In other words, it could be people who have difficulty seeing, difficulty hearing, mobility problems or some cognitive impairment. It is also about people who work in the county council, i.e. our employees. I won't be working at Karlberg Castle, but I will pass by on my way to work, which is at Torsplan.
10 December 2017 - 18:54
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
Congratulations on the new job and when I hear your story about how the county council "plans" I recognise everything from the health care turn down here in the VG region.
It fits in perfectly with your plans for a new trip, and you won't have trouble finding something new when you get back home.
10 December 2017 - 18:30
Helena says:
It's sad that you recognise this. I think there is a lot that is good in the county council and lots of dedicated employees, but there is nothing positive to say about the fact that they have not made a decision on this ... And yes, for my part, I hope that it will be a good combo with our travel plans 🙂 .
10 December 2017 - 18:57
Matts Torebring says:
Congratulations on your new job and I hope you will enjoy it. In my life-long world of sales and entrepreneurship, with quick, big decisions on a coffee break, I know that I wouldn't last an hour in your environment. It's a good thing we were moulded differently.
10 December 2017 - 18:47
Helena says:
I also find this difficult, actually. I have worked for a long time in the county council, but have not experienced it like this before. Maybe it's more cumbersome when you get to the "top" of the organisation ...
10 December 2017 - 18:58
Camilla says:
Sounds like an interesting job and a very important area today! Exciting! And exciting to follow the next motorhome trip!
10 December 2017 - 19:15
Helena says:
Yes, I agree that this is an important area! And nice that you want to follow our motorhome journey Camilla! 🙂
11 December 2017 - 7:08
Ann-Louise says:
Congratulations on your new job and how exciting with new motorhome adventures ahead! 🙂
10 December 2017 - 20:11
Helena says:
Thank you very much Ann-Louise!
11 December 2017 - 7:09
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
Congratulations on your new job! And very exciting about the plans for a new long-distance trip. Now I'm curious about where the trip will go this time!
10 December 2017 - 22:22
Helena says:
Thank you Marianne! We haven't decided where the motorhome trip will go, but we want to explore countries and places in Europe where we haven't been before. We will get back to you on this of course!
11 December 2017 - 7:09
Susjos says:
Wow, what experiences and jobs you have had, and we have both been employed in the county council...but worked with completely different things!
Congratulations on your new job, sounds really exciting!
11 December 2017 - 0:19
Helena says:
Have been? Are you no longer employed by the County Council? And thank you! 🙂
11 December 2017 - 7:10
Veiken says:
Congratulations on your new job. I have a feeling that you will be needed more than you think today! I have always argued that school nurses and nurses at BVC are the ones who lack ambition and who were "left over" after their education. Unfortunately, I have encountered several who have not been good representatives of their job. I do not develop more, but you are needed! GOOD LUCK!
11 December 2017 - 4:40
Helena says:
I'm sorry that you had bad meetings with school nurses and nurses at BVC! In this case, it is a school nurse herself who developed the project from the beginning and it feels positive that it comes from there. What we will help with is to evaluate and possibly develop it further, so that it can eventually become an evidence-based method.
11 December 2017 - 7:13
Ia says:
Congratulations on your job!
11 December 2017 - 16:03
Helena says:
Thank you Ia!
11 December 2017 - 20:44
Steel city anna says:
Good luck with the new job! There were also nice pictures 🙂
11 December 2017 - 16:41
Helena says:
Thank you very much! And glad you like the pictures, the top one I took a few days ago when we walked to my job.
11 December 2017 - 20:45
Henny says:
Congratulations on your new job. Nice to have it to look forward to, both for the content and a fixed income. Have a nice and relaxing weekend time ahead.
11 December 2017 - 20:21
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Yes, it's nice to know what to expect after the turn of the year 🙂 .
11 December 2017 - 20:45
Maria's Memoirs says:
Congratulations, that sounds interesting! 🙂 I will also eventually blog about my new job, and how I ended up where I am now.
13 December 2017 - 3:45
Helena says:
Thank you very much! I look forward to reading about it!
13 December 2017 - 6:00
Inga Magnusson says:
It's great that you give a presentation of your work history! And congratulations on the new job! I guess with a solid background in terms of education and professional experience, you don't have to worry about being unemployed even if you choose project positions to be able to travel between shifts ;- )).
13 December 2017 - 7:17
Anette says:
Congratulations on your new job. I think it sounds very interesting and a very topical area. Best of luck to you 🙂 .
14 December 2017 - 16:49
Kjell/Dessan says:
Congratulations on the new job?Always fun to do something new, then a longer trip again sounds exciting. ??
21 December 2017 - 7:24