1
CV
Kaisu Hannele Pitkälä
Professor of General Practice, University of Helsinki 1.3.2006
M.D. 30.6.1983
Ph.D. 28.5.1991
Specialist of geriatrics, University of Helsinki 8.10.1996
Specialist of general practice, University of Tampere 8.1.1997
Specialist of general internal medicine, University of Helsinki 30.3.1999
Senior lecturer in geriatrics (docent), University of Helsinki 1.10.2003
Previous professional appointments and career breaks
2006 - Professor of General Practice, University of Helsinki
2007 -Chief physician, University Central Hospital,Unit of General Practice
2002 - 2006Research Director, The Central Union for the Welfare of the Aged
2000 – 2003Senior Researcher, University of Helsinki
1997-2000Assistant professor, University of Helsinki, Department of Medicine
Senior doctor, Helsinki University Hospital, Department ofMedicine
1993-1996Specialising physicianat Helsinki university hospital, Helsinki hospitals
1993 - 2009Consulting physicianNursing home Apollo, Helsinki
2003 -Private practitioner
1984 –1993Family physician
Major research funding and academic leadership, student supervision
Major research projects:
1. 1988-1991 Medical thesis research on effectiveness of geriatric day hospital rehabilitation*
2. 1999 Delirium in the elderly (phenomenology, prognosis, + RCT intervention study, 2 completed medical theses, 2 ongoing supervisions)*
5. 1999 Epidemiological research on medication use, prognostic/ risk factors in the aged, RCT study in nursing homes2011-(2 completed medical theses, 3 ongoing supervisions)*
3. 2000 DEBATE study, RCT- intervention study on prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the very old people (collaboration with prof T Strandberg; one completed and several ongoing medical theses)*
4. Helsinki Aging Study, epidemiological study on risk/protective factors in old age. Collaboration with prof Tilvis, prof Strandberg. Several completed med theses + 1 ongoing.*
5. Helsinki Businessmen study (collaboration with prof Strandberg, several ongoing supervisions of medical theses)
6. 2002 Loneliness among older people, epidemiological, qualitative and RCT-intervention study (2 completed medical theses, 1 master’s degree)
7. 2003 Malnutrition among institutionalised elderly people, and one RCT study (multiprofessional research group; one completed medical theses, four ongoing)
8. 2003 Supporting caregivers of patients with dementia, epidemiological, qualitative and RCT-intervention study (multiprofessional research group)*
9. 2008 Exercise rehabilitation for home-dwelling dementia patients. RCT. (multiprofessional research group)*
10. 2010 Supporting self-management skills of caregivers of dementia patients to readjust and to cope with dementia. RCT to started 2011.
*Consists of international cooperation
Student supervision:
Responsible supervisor for 9 completed medical theses,7 completed master’s degrees
11 ongoing supervisions for medical theses.
Scientific awards and honours
Teaching award of Helsinki University, Medical faculty 1998
Leif Sourander lecture prize 2004
Schober Award for Gerontology, Halle, Germany 2011
Sohlberg Nordic Gerontology Prize 2012
Awarded for Academy of Helsinki University Good Teachers 2013-14
Other scientific or academic merits and activities
Reviewer for 11 medical theses 2004-2013,Opponent for 5 medical theses
Reviewer for 3 professorships and 4 docentures.
Expert reviewer
for three international foundations: Wellcome Trust, England, Alzheimer Society and Bupa Foundation, Englanti, FAS/Sweden and peer-reviewer for 44 international scientific journals.
Representations in international research societies and journal boards
Inter-Nordic Geriatric Research School – coordinator 2001- 2004, and 2011
European Union Geriatric Medicine Society. Task Force for Position Statement group 2002
International Association of Gerontology, representative of Clinical section 2004-
Nordisk Gerontologisk Förening board member 1997 – 2001
European Academy for Medicine of Ageing – vice president 2006 –
J Am Med Dir Assoc – editorial board member 2008 –
Major responsibilities in national expert or scientific committees
Evidence-Based Medicine Guidelines - editor 1991 – 2001, editorial staff 2001 –2012
Societas Gerontologica Fennica ry - secretary 1996 – 2001, vice president 2004 -2013
Gerontologia-journal editorial staff 1998 – 2001
Alzheimer research society board member 2007 –2013
Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation expert panel 22.12.2007 -2013
Duodecim, board member 2013 -
Positions at the University administration and working groups:
University of Helsinki, Board member of Palmenia 2006 –
Member of the undergraduate educational committee, University of Helsinki 2006 –
Dissertation committee, University of Helsinki, 2009 -: co-chairperson 2010 -
Board of clinical department, vice member 2010 –
16 International key note lectures:
Other scientific merits:
Received 5,5 million euros research funding in 2000-2013.
Designed, participated and conducted 12 randomized controlled trials.
Wide international scientific cooperation in geriatrics with researchers from the UK, Estonia, Ireland, Australia, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Austria, USA) as well as geriatric postgraduate training (teaching two weeks/year in European Academy for Medicine of Ageing, Switzerland 2006 ) and in gerontological research training (Nordic Gerontological Research School with all Nordic countries)
Scientific and societal impact of research
249 original research articles, 142 review articles and book chapters, 166 conference proceedings and congress abstracts, 22 scientific books, 51 popular articles, 112 article reviews.