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Emily Spencer
Name:
Emily Spencer
Job Title:
PhD Student
Place of work / study:
University College London
Area of Research:
Post-diagnostic support and advance care planning for people with dementia.
How is your research funded:
Alzheimer’s Society studentship.
Tell us a little about yourself:
I am currently a second year PhD student, looking at improving how GPs communicate with people with dementia and their family carers about their future care. My previous research has look at improving the care people with dementia receive from their GP practice, as well as end-of-life and palliative care provision in the community.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
For 5 years I took a bit of a break from research and worked as a musician.
Why did you choose to work in dementia:
When I started at UCL I didn’t have any experience with dementia research, but found the project hugely rewarding, and loved the time I spent meeting with participants who were affected by dementia. Based on this experience, I decided to pursue a PhD focusing on dementia.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Don’t underestimate what you can contribute to a project – even if you’re the most junior member of the team.
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese – it’s pretty weighty (around 750 pages) but I would definitely recommend it.
Can we find you on Twitter & Instagram?
Would you like to share your playlist?
Emily Spencer
Adam Smith
Nice to see what perseverence and lived experience can lead to. Hope you have read our book (Challenging Assumptions Around Dementia) Emily.
Currently trying to get academia to let me in to help in research (with lived experience) but seems stuck.
David Ross