Joel Freilich

Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. What did you do before you started your doctoral studies? 

I’m originally from Stockholm, where I grew up with my family and my younger brother, who is two years my junior. I studied medicine at the Karolinska Institute and completed my internship in Hudiksvall together with my girlfriend. We ended up staying there for seven years, and it was where our three daughters were born. During my internship, I decided to become a general practitioner.  Meeting patients, getting to know their families, and being a 'real' doctor with some knowledge of all kinds of illnesses attracted me to general practice. 

From Hudiksvall, we moved to Tromsø for six months to complete part of our specialist training before moving back to Stockholm. At the time, our children were 3, 3, and 5 years old, and we missed our family back home in Stockholm. Now, the twins have just graduated from high school - one is about to start military service, and the other is going to the Riviera with a friend to work. Their older sister is moving to Lund to begin her studies.

I’ve now been working as a general practitioner for the past 12 years. Alongside my clinical work, I’ve also been involved in teaching medical students at the Karolinska Institute and mentoring trainees in general practice.

How did you become interested in doing research and what made you want to be a doctoral student at our department LIME?    

My interest in research began during my time in Hudiksvall, where my supervisor - who was conducting research on dementia - inspired me to pursue a project of my own. However, I initially struggled to find a topic that truly interested me. Then I learned about a research project on patient-centered communication at a nearby healthcare center. I got in touch with the lead researcher and joined the study in 2016. That involvement eventually led to a connection with Professor Gunnar Nilsson, who recommended me to the research school in general practice. Later, I came into contact with Mirjam Ekstedt, who was conducting studies on multimorbidity and self-care support, and joined the PROCOME group at LIME, where I completed my licentiate thesis in 2021.

My involvement in patient-centered communication naturally evolved into teaching, both at the medical program at Karolinska Institute and in communication skills training for GP trainees. So, when Terese Stenfors reached out last year and invited me to continue my research with a focus on medical education, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

If you were to describe your current doctoral research project in one or two sentences for a class of eight-year-olds, how would you describe it? 

My research is about helping doctors learn how to talk to patients better, so patients feel cared for, understand what’s going on, and can get help take care of their own health.

Can you tell us about your PhD research project? What makes your research stand out?

My PhD research project is within primary care and is about patient-centered communication and self-management support for patients with multimorbidity. The latter part of my PhD-studies has the title “Understanding the role of education in improving patient-centered communication” and is about how patient centered communication is understood among general practitioners and how it can influence general practitioners to use a patient-centered communication model. Even though patient-centeredness is a target for healthcare implementation, recent national and international surveys have found shortcomings in involving patients in their care. The goal of the project is to develop education in patient-centered communication for medical students and residents, tailored to their level of training and the specific needs they encounter in their clinical practice.

What are you working on right now and in the nearest months?

Today, I’ll begin reviewing a systematic review for a medical journal and attend a meeting with two fellow lecturers in medical education to discuss a research project analyzing students’ self-reflections on consultation- aiming to compare the new and old medical curricula. Tomorrow, I have a meeting with colleagues in Ireland to discuss a consultation model they use in their teaching and explore potential joint research projects. In the coming month, I’ll also begin analyzing my phenomenographic interviews.

What is the best and most interesting part of being a doctoral student? 

The best part is being part of a supportive research group, where the other doctoral students are working on related topics. I also appreciate the balance between my doctoral studies and clinical work. It provides space for reflection, enriches my clinical practice, and offers valuable insights that enhance my teaching.

Can you describe the challenges (if any) in being a student at doctoral level? 

One of the challenges is the fragmented nature of the time—both between clinical work and research, but also within the doctoral studies themselves, where seminars and courses often interrupt the time available for actual research work.

What is your relationship with other doctoral students like?

At this stage of my doctoral studies, my interactions are mainly limited to my own research group and the other doctoral students in the Graduate School in Health Professions Education.

What do you like to do when you are not doing research? Hobbies, activities etc?

I enjoy spending time in nature, especially in the mountains or by the sea. I love trekking in the mountains and skiing in the winter. I’m also passionate about photography, traveling, and exploring new cuisines.

What do you envision yourself doing after graduation? 

Wow, that’s a tough question. I imagine myself still working as a GP, while continuing to teach and supervise students. I also hope to be involved in research projects related to medical education.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about applying for doctoral studies? 

Find a supervisor who has the time to support you - especially in the beginning, when guidance is most needed - and a welcoming research group, since you'll be spending a lot of time with them. It’s also important to choose a research project in an area you’re truly passionate about. I would also recommend joining a research school, not only for the structured coursework but, most importantly, for the opportunity to connect with other doctoral students who are going through the same journey.

Anything else you want to say? 

It’s truly a privilege to have the opportunity to conduct research with dedicated funding.