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Dr Martha Pollard
Name:
Dr Martha Pollard
Job Title:
PhD Researcher
Place of work / study:
Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh.
Area of Research:
Freedom and dementia caring experiences from human rights and liberation theology perspectives.
How is your research funded:
Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre Studentship
Tell us a little about yourself:
My initial doctoral training was in psychology and public health, which led to 14 years of teaching and research in epidemiology and differential and health psychology, with a major focus on quantitative methods and cognitive ageing. Hearing participants’ stories when they came to research clinics moved me to shift my career focus into community work. I went into care work for a year, then took up an emotional and social support role for 7 years supporting people living with dementia and carers, qualifying over time as a therapist and mindfulness teacher. I have now returned to doctoral research, this time undertaking a qualitative PhD about freedom and dementia caring experiences. For my thesis, I aim to find the crossover spaces between personal reflections and experiences, philosophical frameworks, and policy implications from both liberation theology and human rights perspectives. The underlying foundation of my intersecting interests is supporting compassionate action in dementia and health and social care, as well as in wider communities and societies, both relationally and practically.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I’m an Associate of the USA-based Order of St Helena, a Episcopal monastic community for women, who once had grounds near where I grew up in New York State, and who are currently based in South Carolina.
Why did you choose to work in dementia research?
Listening to people when I worked in cognitive ageing research, and to experiences in my care work and my family, I hear and see impacts of dementia diagnosis on freedom and caring and want to keep learning about, upholding and advocating for compassionate action grounded in the interconnectedness of humanity.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Gift yourself spaces to let your thoughts settle so you can tune into your own internal wisdom to guide your steps, even if this takes you in unexpected directions.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Number 108 of the international magazine ‘Poetry East,’ which arrived through my letterbox after my father gifted me a subscription. The issue is called ‘Scotland’ and features the work of 10 contemporary Scottish poets including one of my favourites, Kathleen Jamie. As a lover of poetry and Scottish poets, I wholly recommend it — as well as poetry in all its forms anywhere in any way it captures you!
Favourite film of all time?
The Shawshank Redemption — the brilliance of Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman
Favourite ways to unplug and unwind?
Writing, listening to and reading poetry, mindfulness practices, swimming, music and laughing (perhaps at my own dancing or singing round the house with music on)
Dr Gaia Brezzo