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Josephine Rose Orejana Tan
Name:
Josephine Rose Orejana Tan
Job title:
Early Stage Researcher/ PhD Candidate
Place of work / study:
Amsterdam- Amsterdam University Medical Centre
Area of Research:
Psychosocial care in dementia
How is your work funded?
Through the European Union’s Horizon 2020, Marie Sklodowska Cure Actions
Tell us a little about yourself:
I was born in the Philippines, but New Zealand is my home. Together with my husband, we decided to embark on an adventure and relocate to Amsterdam in 2019. We feel very lucky that we were able to both find jobs before the pandemic hit. I am a trained and registered New Zealand Psychologist (but currently not practicing), and my passion is in Health Psychology. We recently adopted a rescue dog from Portugal, and we named him Ollie (after the Dutch winter snack, oliebollen, which is basically fried doughnuts). In my spare time, I like to read, watch Netflix reality TV shows, and barre workouts at home, or indoor bouldering. In New Zealand, my husband and I love to hike up mountains and forest trails.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I’ve been keeping a journal since I was in the second grade
I applied for my current position without knowing any Dutch (which was a requirement).
My maiden surname, Orejana, is a province in Spain, which I would like to visit very much, in the future!
Why did you choose to work in dementia?
I came to work in dementia, through my general love for Health Psychology and wanting to improve the lives of people living with long term chronic conditions. My master’s thesis was about exploring the use of healthcare robots for older adults in rural healthcare, and during that time I realized I enjoyed working with older adults and investigating how technology can benefit them. The focus on person-centered care in dementia resonated with me, because as a psychologist who practices ACT quite a bit, I felt that the approaches we are implementing are a very dignified and flexible way of reaching out to residents with dementia in nursing homes.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Your research project does not define you!
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
I recently finished ‘It’s What I do: A photographer’s Life of Love and War’ and I highly recommend it!
Can we find you on Twitter & Instagram?
Follow me on Instagram @thenecessaryblog
Want to share your playlist?
LANY is my go-to playlist!
