New postdoc at JA

She has a background in social work and has worked in several different areas. She has 750 credits and a keen interest in person-centered care, power issues, and participation. Meet JA's new postdoc Caroline Ärleskog.

Her interest in research was sparked during her undergraduate studies.
- My supervisor's eyes lit up whenever she talked about her research, and that sparked a sense of commitment and curiosity in me, says Caroline.

With a bachelor's degree in social work and social pedagogy, a master's degree in social work, a master's degree in child and youth studies, and a master's degree in quality improvement and leadership, Caroline eventually defended her thesis in sociology.

- I love learning new things and have consciously crossed many boundaries in both my studies and my professional life so as not to get stuck in a single area, Caroline continues. So, given that background, it was perhaps not surprising that I was attracted to JA's interdisciplinary research. I know that there is great value in approaching issues in an interdisciplinary way and crossing boundaries.

Caroline's time is divided between the region and Jönköping University, and her position is funded by Region Jönköping County. Teaching and supervision at the School of Health and Welfare accounts for 20 % of her time, while research assignments at Jönköping Academy fill the remaining 80 %.

Christina Petersson, director of Jönköping Academy, says:
- Caroline is a much-needed resource and will be part of two research teams. One is researching health centers, which is a joint initiative between the region and the county's municipalities, together with residents, civil society, and associations. Health Centers is a collaboration model that is run locally through cooperation between municipalities, health centers, and the non-profit sector. The second project will focus on how the organization can learn from major national initiatives, such as the cancer strategy, and from specific events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The next step will then be to apply this to the knowledge management system, with a particular focus on the field of psychiatry.