PhD Fellows

Vinayak Anand-Kumar

Beneficiary Placement:

Constructor University Bremen

PhD Topic:

Patient Safety and Optimal Communication – Evaluating a WebApp in a European Training Network Co-creatively

Bio:

I’m Vinayak (or Vinny for short). I was born in Coimbatore, an industrial city in South India. My family immigrated to Aotearoa when I was eight. After some challenges in adapting to the new culture and setting, Auckland started to feel like home. Upon completing my Masters in Health Psychology in the City of Sails, a change in career direction prompted a move to Wellington as a statistician for Stats NZ. Two highlights of life in the Windy City were the cinemas and the waterfront. An eagerness to experience a nomadic life had me hopping across parts of South Asia between September 2017 and February 2018. After further travel, in Spain and the UK, I based myself in Caerdydd as a methodologist for the Office for National Statistics. The pandemic hastened my departure. A curiosity of life in the South Island brought me to Ōtautahi; working with a team that explores the feasibility of carrying out an admin first Census in New Zealand. Although I do find it stressful at times, I enjoy the challenge of establishing myself in a new city; hoping to spend time in continental Europe, Asia and Africa over the next few years.

I am looking forward to being part of Team Baby and Health CASCADE. I will be joining a group of researchers that are exploring the use of digital interventions to improve communication behaviour in the field of obstetrics. We intend on employing co-design to evaluate and iterate on a web based application that strives to improve patient outcomes.

I have been looking for work that is compassion driven; where a successful outcome can reduce suffering. The intent of improving communication behaviour is to improve patient safety, and in turn reduce the frequency of negative outcomes for expecting mothers and their babies.

The chance to work with other disciplines excites me. I thrive in environments that bring together people with different skill sets and knowledge. It is a great opportunity to learn new things, and discover new interests and ways of working.

Joining the network will be a chance to experience life in continental Europe, and learn about a different culture. I am grateful to have had the chance to live in India, New Zealand and Wales. I look forward to my next chapter in Germany.