Velkommen til Norge (Welcome to Norway)

The first time I visited the ProHealth group at the University of Stavanger . I was early in my PhD journey, and I did not know what to expect while I was there or in terms of visit outcomes. You can read about that experience here: https://rosalynnaustin.wixsite.com/clinicalacademic/single-post/2019/12/03/internasjonal-phd-erfaring-international-phd-experience.

At the beginning of my post-doc experience I was beyond excited to return to Stavanger. Throughout my PhD I maintained the working relationships (and friendships) that began on that visit. They had published the results of their work in burden of treatment in translating a treatment burden tool, colorectal cancer, and heart failure. They had secured funding for an interventional study utilising a digital application for the support of colorectal cancer and heart failure patients in the immediate post discharge period.

My goals this time were to 1) share with them the results of my PhD research, 2) build collaborations between them and institutions in the UK I’m connected to, and 3) learn more about the experience of developing and coordinating a complex intervention.

While I achieved those goals and more. I want to share the differences between my visits. I hope this encourages you to seek out your own opportunity to set up an international research visit.

Reminder that you are not alone.

The struggle to be a researcher is real. Our professional lives are full of struggle and rejection with periodic moments of success that fuel our continued struggle. Some of us may be fortunate enough to be in a research group, but often as clinical academics are isolated from research groups due to our clinical roles. It can be easy to believe that your struggle is unique to you. My first visit I had not yet experienced multiple rejections but that has changed now! Spending a week with a research group in their office space meant lunch and coffee conversations that swirled around funding applications, peer review revisions, and analysis struggles were a balm for me. Typically, I work independently and while I have built a strong virtual network around me. There was something special about being near others who get the struggle

Skill acquisition realisation

One of the things I learned throughout my doctoral studies is that the learning never stops. This can lead you to believe that you know nothing and feed your imposter syndrome. In a lovely discussion with Prof’s Anne-Marie Lunde Husebø (Mia) and Bjørg I realised how far my knowledge and experience had changed how other researchers viewed me. My research skills have grown into a person who can inform the design, analysis and dissemination of research projects. To use Prof Mia’s words, “you have more research weight and experience now. That changes what you can do and achieve!”

Network building

While there were several familiar faces at the ProHealth group there were many new people to meet! I heard about lots of other projects they are working on outside of my own area of interest. I found their work interesting but also due to the network of researchers, I have built up around me I had the privilege of helping to connect those researchers with people I know here in the UK, whose research interests do align! Already there are two reciprocal international research visits set up to the UK (University of Portsmouth and University of Southampton) for later this year. Made possible through the kindness of people who are in my UK research network who were happy and interested to meet the researchers from University of Stavanger.

An international research visit, in my experience, is never the same twice. The lessons learned and value to be gained has been valuable to both me personally as well as the intuitions that supported that experience.