Degrees
- 2012: Degree in Psychosocial Oncology (WPO-PT)
- 2010: Certificate as clinical investigator (coordination centers for clinical studies)
- 2009: Doctorate (Dr. med.)
- 1993: Degree in psychotherapy (individual and group),
- 1991: License to practice medicine
- 1982: Graduation Associate in Arts, Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, USA
Professional career
- Since 2010: Scientific staff member at the Institute of Health and Nursing Sciences, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
- 2009-2010: Scientific staff member at the Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Halle
- 2003-2009: Doctoral thesis “Stress and coping because of immobilization due to preterm labor - a qualitative analysis of interviews with the women and their partners”
- 1998-2003: Parental leave
- 1994-1998: Psychotherapeutic practice
- 1991-1994: Assistant physician at the Rhineland Regional Hospital, Viersen, section addictive diseases, psychotherapy
Research focus
- Supportive Oncology, Working Group Pro-patient-reported outcomes research in oncology: Symptom assessment and symptom management (transdisciplinary)
- Assessment as the basis for interdisciplinary treatment planning
- Coping
Current research projects
- Co-investigator in cooperation with clinical partners of the University Clinic Halle (Internal Medicine I, Radiation therapy)
The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group:
- Development of a module to supplement the EORTC Core instruments for assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in patients with Anal Cancer
- Development of a module to supplement the EORTC Core instruments for assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in patients with Cancer Cachexia
- Cross-cultural adaptation of an EORTC cancer out-patient satisfaction with care measure (EORTC OUT-PATSAT) for the ambulatory setting
- Creation of symptom-based questionnaires based on current EORTC guidelines for module development: The development of a time-efficient procedure
- Investigating the German response scale of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) – a three-step approach
- PRO-LQ - Lebensqualität in der klinischen Onkologie
- Sidekick - Entwicklung einer komplexen Supportivintervention zur Förderung der körperlichen Funktionsfähigkeit älterer Krebspatienten unter Berücksichtigung der individuellen Plastizität
Completed research projects
- “PIVOG Geriatric Cancer Patients: Assessment, Clinical Decision Making, Quality of Life -Modeling and Piloting of a Patient Centered Interdisciplinary Care Program for Geriatric Oncology Patients - A Prospective Bicentric Study“
- Pro-Onko: Patient reported outcomes in the treatment of oncological patients - A multicenter pilot study to select appropriate assessment instruments
- „OPTIREHA - Patient Transition from Acute Care to Rehabilitation“
Memberships
- German Society for Geriatrics and Gerontology (DGGG)
- International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)
- Elderly task force (ETF) as quality of life group representative
- German Network for Evidence-based Medicine (EbM Netzwerk)
- Center for Patient Education (Zentrum Patientenschulung e.V.)
- European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group
- German Cancer Society (Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft, DKG)
- Working Group Psycho-Oncology (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Psychoonkologie in der deutschen Krebsgesellschaft e. V., PSO)
- Working Group Supportive Measures in Oncology, Rehabilitation and Social Medicine (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Supportive Maßnahmen in der Onkologie, Rehabilitation und Sozialmedizin ASORS)
- Conference of Oncology Nursing and Pediatric Nursing (KOK)
- European Nursing Society (EONS)
- Cancer Society of Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhaltische Krebsgesellschaft e. V., SAKG)
External Peer Review
- Supportive Care in Cancer
- BMJ open
- Annals of oncology
- Journal for pain and symptom management
- Journal for Evidence, Training and Quality in Healthcare (ZEFQ)
Awards
- Poster Prize - 30th German Cancer Congress, 22 - 25 February 2012 in Berlin
- Highlighted Poster - 2nd ASORS Annual Congress "Supportive therapy and rehabilitation in cancer - State of the Art 2011", 25/26 March 2011 in Berlin
Voluntary work
- AG Ethic case counseling