CURRICULUM VITAE                                                                                                              

Suominen, Merja Hannele

Hirsipadontie 5 I 104

00640 Helsinki

p. +358505841995                                                        

EDUCATION

2013                                   Adjunct Professor in Nutrition, University of Helsinki

2008                                   Doctor of Science (Nutrition) Nutrition and nutritional care of elderly people in Finnish nursing homes and hospitals, University of Helsinki, 2007

1994                                   Master of Science (Nutrition), University of Helsinki

OTHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

2014-2016                          Educational program for organisation consulting (Organisaatiokonsultoinnin syventävä koulutusohjelma), Metanoia institution

1983-1984                          Craft Instructor, State College for Craft Instructors (Askartelunohjaaja, Valtion askartelunohjaajaopisto)

CURRENT POSITION

2017 -                                 Principal Investigator, University of Helsinki, PROMISS (Nutrition for Healthy Ageing). Responsible for the research project: Long-term (cost)effectiveness of nutrition intervention among older people in 2017-2020, RCT

2017 -                                 Executive Director, Society for Gerontological Nutrition in Finland

Responsible for the research projects explained in detail in the part of research funding and leadership

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE

2014-2017                          Project Manager, Society for Gerontological Nutrition in Finland

Nutrition, quality for life –project. Responsible for the research project: Tailored nutritional guidance of geriatric patients after discharge: a randomized controlled trial

2013 – 2014                       Chairperson of the Society for Gerontological Nutrition in Finland

2013                                   EFEC, ECVET for Elderly Care project, researcher

2009-2013                          Researcher, Society for Memory Disorders Expertise in Finland

Responsible for the research project: Nutritional treatment of aged individuals with Alzheimer disease living at home with their spouses.

1999 – 2008                       Project Coordinator and researcher, The Central Union of the Welfare of the Aged

Working in research and development projects being responsible for planning and implementing projects and research concerning nutrition of older people.

1998 – 1999                       Free-lance writer and consultant in nutrition  

                                           Meals on wheels-project in the city of Helsinki

1997                                    Project Coordinator, Dairy Nutrition Council

Working in the EU-project “Girls and food”, responsible for the contacts to other EU-partners.

1994 – 1996                       Teaching Assistant, University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, Nutrition

LANGUAGES                  Finnish          mother tongue

English         good written and oral skills

Swedish        good written and oral skills

Germany       fair written and oral skills

FUNDING, LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION

Participation as principle investigator in externally funded projects (all in all, app. 3,1 million EUR during 2000–2020)

• Supporting 50-65 years old people’s quality of life and nutrition using digital smartphone application (Muutos lautasella) in 2018-2020, funding by Centre for Social Welfare Health Organisations (STEA), 345 000 €
• PROMISS (Nutrition for Healthy Ageing, http://www.promiss-vu.eu/), Long-term (cost)effectiveness of nutrition intervention among older people in 2017-2020, RCT, funded by the Commission of the European Union, University of Helsinki 540 000 €
• Supporting older people’s nutrition and quality of life together with other organizations in 2017-2019, funding Centre for Social Welfare Health Organisations (STEA), 467 000 €
• Providing food and catering services to older people and supporting them to live at home. Funding Government’s analysis, assessment and research activities 30 000 € in 2017-2018 (Reporting older individuals’ experiences ja wishes for the future in food services in 2018)
• Effect of group advice on older peoples’s protein intake, physical functioning and quality of life, RCT, Ravitsemuksen tutkimussäätiö (Valio), 33 000 € in 2017-2018
• Dark chocolate flavanols and their effect on cognition in older people. FlaSeCo-study, RCT. Funding Fazer Brainfood 140 000 € in 2016-17 (reporting in 2018)
• Nutrition treatment and care of older people, quality for life 2014-2017, funding from the RAY in Finland, 444 000 €
• EFEC, ECVET for Elderly Care project, transnational partnerships called Sector Skills Alliances (SSA) funded by the Commission of the European Union 2013, 10 000 €
• Effect of tailored nutritional treatment of aged individuals with Alzheimer disease living at home with their spouses – randomized controlled intervention trial 2009-2012, funding from the RAY in Finland, 540 000 €
• Nutrition recommendation for older people in Finland 2008, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 4 000 €
• Nutrition and nutritional care of elderly people in Finnish nursing homes and hospitals 2005-2007, funding from the RAY in Finland,180 000 €
• Project for promoting older people’s nutrition 2002-2004, funding from the RAY in Finland,180 000 €
• Project for promoting food services of older people 1999-2001, funding from the RAY in Finland, 120 000 €

Supervision of doctoral dissertations

Susanna Kunvik. Improving caregivers nutrition and well‐being with tailored personal and group counseling. Academic dissertation. 2015-

Jan Verho. Nutritional intervention compared to normal care among geriatric patients during six months period in protein intake and quality of life. Academic dissertation. 2015-

Satu Jyväkorpi. Nutrition of older people and the effect of nutritional interventions on nutrient intake, diet quality and quality of life. Academic dissertation. 2016

Taija Puranen. Intervening nutrition among community-dwelling individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their spouses. Academic dissertation. 2015

Merits in teaching and pedagogical competence

Academic supervising 2, course of 5 credits in university pedagogy in 2012, University of Helsinki

Pedagogical studies in State College for Craft Instructors (all in all 637 hours), 1983-4

Noora Mikkonen. Sairaalasta kotiutuvien ikääntyneiden ravitsemustila, ravinnonsaanti ja niiden yhteys psyykkisiin ja sosiaalisiin tekijöihin. Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Kuopio. 2017

Susanna Kunvik. Ikääntyneiden ravitsemus ja sen yhteys kognitioon sekä psyykkisiin ja sosiaalisiin tekijöihin. Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki. 2015.

Saara Pietilä. Kotona asuvan ikääntyneen muistisairaan ja puolisohoitajan ravitsemus – Onko puolisohoitajan sukupuolella merkitystä? Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki. 2013.

Laura Karjula. Ikääntyneiden ravitsemustila ja ravinnonsaanti ja niiden yhteys toimintakykyyn. Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki. 2013.

Jelena Meinilä. Nutrition and behavioral symptoms of residents with memory disorders in long-term care. Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki. 2010.

Päivi Peltomäki. Nutritional status, dining and housekeeping of aged home care clients (Ikääntyneiden kotipalveluasiakkaiden ruokatalouden hoito, ruokailu ja ravitsemustila). Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki, 2007.

Lindstöm-Vasko Terhi. Development of food service in Haanoja service center (Ruokapalvelun kehittäminen Haanojan palvelukeskuksessa). Thesis. Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences. 2005.

Anu Laine. Nutritional status and nutrient intake of institutionalized elderly patients with dementia. Master’s thesis (Nutrition), University of Helsinki, 2002.

Niina Peuranpää. Quality handbook for food service units in The Central Union of the Welfare of the Aged. Thesis. Espoo-Vantaa University of Applied Sciences. 2000.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

ESPEN Guidelines in Dementia, member in the expert group 2013-2015

Nordic Nutrition recommendations 2013

ECVET for Elderly Care, EU funded project, 2013

Nordic Geriatric Research School, 2004 and 2011

Member of international research organization INTERDEM (Intervention in Dementia) 2005-

REVIEWING MANUSCRIPTS

European Journal of Public Health

Journal of Nutrition Health and Ageing

Nutrition

Clinical Nutrition

Journal of American Medical Directors Association

MEMBERSHIP IN SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES

Nutrition in long-term care in the city of Helsinki, 2003-2017

Nutritional Guidelines for Older People in Finland, 2008-2010

Nutrition among service housing clients in the city of Helsinki and Espoo, 2007-2009

Congress in Eldelry Nutrition in 2008, The Association of Clinical and Public Health Nutritionists in Finland, 2007-2008

University of Turku, Centre for Extension Studies, elderly nutrition, education for professionals, 2006-2007

Elderly and food service, National Public Health Institute, 2007-2008

Nutritional status of home-dwelling, meals on wheels –clients in Turku, 2005-2006

Nutrition in long-term care in the city of Helsinki, 2002-2007

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Original scientific publications: 43

Scientific reviews: 6

Other scientific publications: 9

Over 200 congress abstracts and presentations