Mary Abetang

I am a PhD student at the Department of Neurobiology, Health Sciences and Society, with a background in Education and Public Health. I obtained my Master’s degree in Public Health Sciences from Karolinska Institutet in June 2025. My thesis examined accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Swedish adults aged 50-60 years, with and without multimorbidity, in a cross-sectional study.

Master Thesis Supervisors
Professor Philip Von Rosen (Main Supervisor)
Callum Regan, PhD student (Co-supervisor)
Department of Neurobiology, Health Sciences and Society

My PhD research focuses on Preventing Functional Decline in Acutely Hospitalized Older Adults: Effects of a Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial, Patient Experiences, and Secondary Analysis - (The PREV_FUNC Project). In the first two years, I will examine the short-term effects of the intervention on physical function and the long-term outcomes related to hospital readmissions.

My research interests include: physical activity promotion and interventions, preventing functional decline in older adults, healthy ageing and geriatric rehabilitation, patient experiences and person-centered care, prevention and management of non-communicable diseases, health promotion and disease prevention in diverse populations. 

I am licensed by the Ontario College of Teachers (Canada) to teach Health and Physical Education at the Senior Division level. I have worked as a lecturer at a College of Education in Nigeria, where I contributed to training future teachers, and as a teacher in secondary schools in Nigeria. I also held a leadership position as a school principal in Nigeria. In the UK, I worked as a cover supervisor, supporting schools with classroom management and short-term teaching duties.