Anna-Karin Welmer

I am associate professor and senior lecturer in physiotherapy at Karolinska Institutet and physiotherapist at the Karolinska University Hospital. I obtained my PhD in physiotherapy at KI. Thereafter, I did my postdoctoral training first at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Gothenburg and then at the Aging Research Center, KI. Currently, I am chair of the Course and programme committee for doctoral education at Karolinska Institutet.

My research concern health in older adults, with special focus on physical function, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and injurious falls. My research combines clinical studies (interventions, qualitative studies, and implementation research) with large population-based studies. The goals are to increase knowledge regarding: 1) Determinants and consequences of disability, physical inactivity, and injurious falls in older adults, The effect of physical exercise interventions on functioning and health in old age, and Implementation of evidence-based methods in clinical practice.

In 2015, I was awarded the Karolina Prize (Karolinska University Hospital research prize) for excellent clinical research. As main applicant, I have received funding from various foundations, including the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), the Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare (Forte), Region Stockholm (Center for Innovative Medicine and ALF Medicine), The Strategic Research Area Health Care Science, KI, KI funds, the Research School in Health Care Science, The Mälardalen Area Doctoral School in Healthcare Science (MoF-V), and Konung Gustaf Vs och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse.

I participate in several national and international collaborative projects. For instance, I was WP-leader for the EU projects MPI_age (2014-2017) and SHARED (2019-2022), and I am currently member of the expert group of the World Falls Guidelines (2019-present). I have been main supervisor for two doctoral students, and co-supervisor for six doctoral students who defended their theses. Currently, I am main supervisor for two doctoral students and research group leader at the Division of Physiotherapy, NVS, KI. I have published more than 110 peer-reviewed scientific articles and have an H index of 31. 

I have been course coordinator, examiner, and teacher for several courses in at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral level (mainly interprofessional courses). I am currently responsible for the courses at the advanced level, “Dementia, from cell to society”, and “Master course in dementia care for physiotherapists and occupational therapists”. Concerning pedagogical training, I have more than 15 weeks of pedagogical education. Recently, I was one five pedagogical ambassadors for research education at KI, which further deepened my knowledge on pedagogical development. I have supervised several degree projects in physiotherapy and related areas.