Interview with: Joanne Greenhalgh, PhD
University of Leeds, School of Sociology and Social Policy
Joanne Greenhalgh, PhD, has been active in ISOQOL for many years and most recently served as ISOQOL President from 2021 to 2023. With her term serving as ISOQOL Past President on the Board of Directors having concluded following the 2024 Annual Conference, ISOQOL would like to thank Prof. Greenhalgh for her strong leadership and dedication to the Society.
In an interview with QualityTALK, the ISOQOL Past President talks about her experience with the Society and lets members get to know her better.
Can you tell a little about your journey to becoming an ISOQOL President?
Joanne Greenhalgh (JG): I attended my first ISOQOL conference in 1999 in Barcelona as a nervous PhD student. Everyone was so friendly that I came again in 2000 and then almost every year until 2005 when I had my first child. In 2003, Donna Lamping and Jane Blazeby were co-chairs of the Annual Conference and invited me to help organise the abstracts into sessions.
I was chair of the Membership Committee between 2007 and 2012, and in 2009 I was elected as a member of the Board of Directors; my term ended in 2012. I delivered a plenary session at the Annual Conference in 2016, and in 2018 I co-chaired the Annual Conference in Dublin with Diana Rofail. In 2020 I become President-Elect.
What does serving as an ISOQOL President mean to you?
JG: It was an honour to serve such a vibrant, collegiate and inspiring community. I really enjoyed working with the treasurer, a past president, a president-elect and a lively Board to develop ISOOQL’s strategic plan. This was also a useful opportunity to learn what the ISOQOL community valued about their membership and what they would like ISOQOL to be in the future. I learned such a lot in that role.
How long have you been a member of ISOQOL and why did you join?
JG: Since 1999 – I joined because I attended the Annual Conference and wanted to connect with a community with similar interests. There were not many people at my institution who were interested in quality of life measurement at the time.
What is your favorite thing about ISOQOL?
JG: The community! Everyone is so friendly and it feels like an academic home. I learn so much from attending the Annual Conference and it is such a great way to keep up with what’s happening at the forefront of the field.
What would you say to other professionals who may be considering becoming an ISOQOL member?
JG: Join us! If you want to learn about measuring patient outcomes and make connections with people who are moving this field forward, you’ll find a home here. If you’re an ECR, you’ll find a range of educational offerings and opportunities for mentorship.
What member benefits do you value and use the most?
JG: The Annual Conference and the Special Interest Groups. I’ve been involved in several exciting projects through the Clinical Practice Special Interest Group that have made a significant contribution to the field.
What do you love most about HRQL research?
JG: The work that we do makes a real difference to patients’ lives; by measuring HRQL, we have an opportunity to develop and evaluate ways to improve it.
What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far?
JG: I would have to say being ISOQOL President!
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
JG: Work with good people. Find a good mentor.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
JG: One of my favourite things to do is to go for a walk with my binoculars and bird watch.
What’s one of your favorite ISOQOL memories?
JG: Taking hotel bars and corridors to sing in the ISOQOL choir!
This newsletter editorial represents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ISOQOL.
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The International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL) is a global community of researchers, clinicians, health care professionals, industry professionals, consultants, and patient research partners advancing health related quality of life research (HRQL).
Together, we are creating a future in which patient perspective is integral to health research, care and policy.