BU Research Blog

I am delighted to have arrived at BUDI to start a new job with Anthea and her team of committed, enthusiastic colleagues. They have made me feel very welcome and I feel a part of the team already. My role in the team is to write funding applications, so I hope you will get in touch with me if you think you can contribute in any way.

I have been based for the past ten years at the University of Stirling; firstly as a student and then as a lecturer in dementia studies. At Stirling, I taught on the online programme in dementia studies and have met some fantastic students who I know will contribute to making things better for people living with and affected by dementia. I have worked with inspirational and committed researchers and academics, both nationally and internationally and have had the opportunity to travel widely to do research, teach and speak at conferences and, I hope, to inspire others to work to make a difference. Alongside my academic work, I am also a nurse and have worked, and will continue to work, in a little care home for people with dementia. I work one night shift a month partly because I love this work and am good at it and also because it stimulates new research ideas and enables me to teach with credibility. Probably the main reason I work in this little care home is that the people with dementia who live there have taught me about humanity, compassion, resilience, humour and dignity, and I am not sure I would have learned these anywhere else.

I look forward to working with the BUDI team and people beyond the team and hope to meet some of you in the future.

Dr Fiona Kelly
Associate Director (Research)
BUDI
fkelly@bournemouth.ac.uk