Introduction
The Sustainable Health Unit (SUSTAINIT) is highlighting its researchers in the series, Researcher on Centre Stage. Meet Biljana Meshkovska focusing on implementation science and policy implementation.
What made you interested in this topic?
I am interested in this topic because it is both academic, but also with strong practice implications and applicability. It is also very cross-disciplinary.
Is there a particular event, situation or person that inspired you to take this path?
I started working with implementation science when I joined the Public Health Nutrition group led by Professor Nanna Lien. She has been my inspiration and introduced me to the field initially through the project I was hired for.
How can this research contribute to solving challenges within sustainable health?
A lot of the work within implementation science is how to upkeep and sustain 'the thing' (evidence based practice, intervention, policy, program, action) in practice and over time. Sustainability is a big focus within implementation science and practice.
Do you have any advice to students that aim for an academic career within sustainable health?
It is a current, relevant topic with a lot of space for new research and aspects that are yet to be explored. There is need of fresh and new minds. However, it is a long and arduous road to build an academic career in any field - be sure that it is what you want, and be sure you love the topic you are choosing- as moments of frustration always come (and hopefully go).
Publication in the research field
This is a study of barriers and facilitators to implementation of a policy based program, and we looked at it from the perspective of government employees, cross-country. It was an unusual setting (as oppose to organizational level- like a school or hospital), and a policy-program, rather than evidence based intervention. It was a great experience, and delivered some interesting results and lessons learned.
Biljana Meshkovska