What are your tasks in your current job?
- As a research fellow your main task is to investigate a defined research question. I am working on a research project within health economics and policy analyses related to cervical cancer screening. In particular, my research focuses on the potential to improve follow-up of women with abnormal screening results, utilizing methods such as decision-analytic modeling.
- An important part of conducting research involves dissemination of results, thus other tasks involve writing scientific papers, participation at national and international conferences, as well as attending university courses and seminars.
How did you get the job?
- Subsequent to graduating, the Department of Health Management and Health Economics announced a PhD position related to cervical cancer screening and economic evaluation. The project was related to my master thesis work and within a field I find especially interesting. I applied for the position, and fortunately, I got the job!
To what extent is the knowledge you acquired through your studies relevant to your current job?
- This programme has provided me with a multidisciplinary theoretical understanding within topics such as policy, economics, priority setting, economic evaluation and decision analysis. In addition, the program offers relevant work experience within the health sector through internships as elective course work.
- The program has also allowed me to enhance my practical skills using tools such as Excel, STATA and TreeAge Pro. I use these tools and methods every day in my work, and the knowledge acquired during my studies are invaluable in my current job.
How are the possibilities of developing your skills in your current job?
- One of the main aims with the doctoral program is to develop your skills and acquire new knowledge. By attending conferences you meet new people and gain insight to your research area, and through course work you learn new methods and tools.
- The learning environment is fantastic, and the only one setting a limit to your possibilities for development is yourself.
Do you have any career advice for new students?
- I think the best advice I can give you is what has brought me to this job: Pursue your interests and what you find meaningful, that will give you the motivation to put in the extra effort needed to achieve your career goals.
Award for outstanding presentation of research
Each year, the Society for Medical Decision Making (SMDM) awards young researchers for outstanding presentation of research at an SMDM meeting with the Lee B. Lusted student prize award. At the 2014 annual meeting in Miami, Kine presented work from her Master thesis which relates to trade-offs in cervical cancer screening.
The award is based on a moderated poster session at the conference, where Kine gave a brief oral presentation of her poster in front of the judges and the other researchers in her category. Each poster and presentation was scored by all judges, based on research content and presentation of the research. There are five research categories for the award, and Kine won within the category “Health Services and Policy Research”.
Poster presented at the SMDM Meeting i 2014. Download the poster as pdf.