Meet the Researchers of CONNECTED: Yanjun Duan
CONNECTED is an international project enhancing long-term care (LTC) by addressing inequalities through innovative solutions tailored to older adults, caregivers, and staff. Our interdisciplinary team from Brazil, Canada, Switzerland, and the USA is committed to making LTC more inclusive. Though our team is full of talented, and experienced researchers, this effort is powered by our dedicated graduate students, whose roles, backgrounds, and contributions to the project know no bounds.
Welcome back to the newest CONNECTED blog series: Meet the Graduate Team of CONNECTED. Where we interview and profile the talented student researchers involved in the CONNECTED project.
In this post, we shine the spotlight on Yanjun Duan, a Research Assistant and MN Student at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto.
Yanjun Duan: A Decade of Experience in Long-Term Care
Background and Path to CONNECTED
Yanjun Duan brings a decade of experience in long-term care to the CONNECTED project. Before joining CONNECTED, Yanjun worked as an Assistant Director of Resident Care, focusing on innovative practices in long-term care. She explained,
“I am a registered nurse working in long-term care as an Assistant Director of Resident Care. When I heard about the long-term care innovations being studied in CONNECTED, I was really attracted to the new opportunity, new practice and new innovation in long term care."
Yanjun’s motivation to join the project stemmed from her desire to delve deeper into long-term care innovations, particularly those emerging from the pandemic.
Contributions to CONNECTED
Yanjun’s extensive background in long-term care has made her a valuable asset to the CONNECTED research team. Her role includes contributing to literature reviews and sharing her insights on the practical implications of innovations. She shared,
"I contribute by helping with literature reviews, which I have learned alot from working with the four countries internationally.”
Her hands-on experience and understanding of long-term care policies and procedures enable her to provide a practical perspective on the project’s research.
Exciting and Rewarding Aspects of CONNECTED
For Yanjun, the most rewarding aspect of working on the CONNECTED project is the opportunity to learn and grow professionally. She noted,
"I’m gaining insights into long-term care innovations across four countries and reflecting on myself, like what can I improve, capture and learn. It also allows me to reflect on my own practices and think about improvements I can bring."
Yanjun values the chance to apply new knowledge to her own work and sees this as a significant benefit of her involvement in the project.
Conclusion
Yanjun Duan’s experience and contributions are crucial to the CONNECTED project’s success. Her practical insights and dedication to improving long-term care practices reflect the project’s goals and vision.
Stay tuned for more inspiring profiles of our exceptional student researchers in upcoming posts. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the CONNECTED project, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to sharing more about our journey.