30DoS 2018 Day 16 - Tobba Therkildsen Sudmann
I’ve been a student almost all my life; since my training as a physiotherapist in the mid 80-ies I’ve studied psychology, pedagogy, law, and social science (health and social policy, medical sociology). I did my Master of Philosophy in physiotherapy/social science in the late 90-ies, and my Ph.D. in 2009, at the Department of Global Health and Primary Care at the University of Bergen in Norway. As a clinician, I trained as a Bobath therapist and worked for several years as a clinical tutor for students from the Physiotherapy Program at Bergen University College. I have updated my clinical competence in the last decade and are now certified as a riding physiotherapist and equestrian trainer (beginners’ level).
I like to think about myself as a lifelong curious learner and student of how people live and use their bodies in everyday life. The CPN network has been a stimulating playground and fascinating place to meet all kinds of physio’s, and it has been particularly inspiring to meet colleagues around the globe who have pondered with the same ideas, text or clinical challenges. The CPN network is as other networks; it must be nourished to thrive and grow. The efforts the collective of members put into keeping it vibrant and attractive pays off – new friends, new ideas, new publications, new challenges and new kinds of barriers to climb. Tackling barriers and obstacles can kill motivation, but it can also trigger joy and creativity, as in edgework or parkour (see article by Nordgreen et al 2018 below).
My current position is as an Associate Professor at the Department of Health and Functioning, at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Additionally, I have a part-time position as an outdoor riding physiotherapist. My research interests are related to how people use their bodily resources to enhance their well-being and social participation, whether the means are in- and outdoor physical activity, nature, and animals, or e-health/technology. My publications and research are action-oriented, both as a means of research methodology and as an aim of research. Anti-oppressive professional practice is at the hub of my interests.
I find it intriguing and inspiring to use perspectives from social theory, particularly the sociology of everyday life and the sociology of difference, to understand how health and illness is lived, experiences and constructed. I have a particular interest in medicalization, in social inequalities in health, anti-oppressive practice in health and social care, and gender issues (and the intersection with age, ethnicity, health and so forth). Following, philosophy of social science becomes equally inspiring to read.
The CPN network represents a scholarly treasure chest and an alternative network of PTs believing we are thinking and acting “differently”. Being or doing physiotherapy “differently” is important; in so far it means first to acknowledge patients motivations, prioritizations and resources. Second, and even more important, social inequality, oppression, marginalization or abuse has a huge impact on health and well being, that must be acknowledged and approached by physiotherapists during assessment, and when choosing treatment modalities and outcome measures. Our toolkit needs to be amended accordingly.
Selected publications in English:
Sudmann, T. T. (2018). Equine-facilitated physiotherapy – devised encounters with daring and compassion. https://press.nordicopenaccess.no/index.php/noasp/catalog/view/29/123/974-2
Sudmann, T., & Breivik, J.-K. (2018). Editorial: special issue on community work and going glocal in Scandinavian Welfare States. Community Development Journal, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsy018
Sudmann, T. (2018). Communitas and Friluftsliv: equine-facilitated activities for drug users. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsy026
Breivik, J.-K., & Sudmann, T. (2018). Applying creativity and physical arts in community work education. Community Development Journal, undefined-undefined. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsy022
Nordgreen, L., Økland, M., Henriksbø, K., & Sudmann, T. (2018). Negotiating obstacles in the making of a parkour site at Leitet – children and young people’s participation in area development. Community Development Journal, undefined-undefined. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsy019
Sudmann, T. T., et. al (2017). Ultra Wide Band Radar Monitoring of movementes in homes of elderly and disabled people: A health care perspective. In P. Bilski & F. Guerriero (Eds.), Computer Systems for Healthcare and Medicine (pp. 1-30). Aalborg, Danmark: River Publisher.
Sudmann, T. T., & Børsheim, I. T. (2017). ‘It’s good to be useful’: Activity provision for people living with dementia on green care farms in Norway. International Journal of Practice Development, 7(September Supplement article 8). https://doi.org/10.19043/ipdj.7SP.008
Sudmann, T. T., et. al(2016). Development of radar-based system for monitoring of frail home-dwelling persons: A healthcare perspective. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 772(1), 012015. http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/772/1/012015/pdf
Sudmann, T. T., et. al (2015). UWB-radar monitoring of movements in homes of elderly and disabled people—An interdisciplinary perspective (RADCARE). IEEE 8th International Conference on Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications (IDAACS), 2, 747-750. https://doi.org/10.1109/IDAACS.2015.7341402
Ihle, R., & Sudmann, T. T. (2014). Health Encounters with Minority Patients – Changing Perspectives from Tolerance and Intercultural Communication to Empowerment and Shared Decision-Making FLEKS Scandinavian Journal of Intercultural Theory and Practice, 1(2). https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2481808/Ihle+Sudmann+2014+Health+encounter+with+minoruity+patients.pdf?sequence=4
Sudmann, T. T. (2009). (En)gendering body politics. Physiotherapy as a window on health and illness. (PhD Monography), University of Bergen, Bergen. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1956/3143
Email address: tsu@hib.no
Location (city/town, country): Bergen, Norway
Current position(s):
Full position: Associated professor Bergen University College.
Part time: Private practice as riding physiotherapist
Links:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tobba_Sudmann/publications
http://criticalphysio.net/2014/10/04/interview-with-tobba-therkildsen-sudmann/
See interview at CPN: https://criticalphysio.net/2014/10/04/interview-with-tobba-therkildsen-sudmann/
See 30DoS: https://criticalphysio.net/2016/09/05/tobba-sudmann-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-30dos-5/
Interview at Senter for omsorgsforskning (Centre for Care Research, in Norwegian): http://www.hib.no/om-hogskolen/senter-for-omsorgsforskning/nytt-fra-senteret/tobba/
Interview at Norsk Helseinformatikk (Norwegian Health Informatics, in Norwegian): https://nhi.no/psykisk-helse/rus-og-avhengighet/bort-fra-rusen-inn-pa-tunet/