New doctoral student: Sofia Ullman
In March, Sofia Ullman was welcomed as a doctoral student at the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge. Her principal supervisor is Axel Wester.
What will your thesis be about?
The overall aim is to improve risk stratification and evaluate the effects of pharmacological treatment on serious liver outcomes, such as liver cirrhosis, in patients with diabetes. The thesis will also address how a commonly used risk score, Fibrosis-4, can be optimized as a surveillance method for advanced liver disease.
Why are you interested in this research area?
With the rapid rise in type 2 diabetes, this is a highly topical area of research. I also have a strong interest in gastroenterology and hepatology as a clinical specialty. This has given me a strong motivation to pursue research questions that can provide meaningful answers for patients and help us better understand who is at greatest risk of developing advanced liver disease.
What did you do before starting your doctoral studies at MedH?
I am currently in the final year of the six-year medical programme at Karolinska Institutet. During semester 10, I was admitted as a PhD student at MedH.
What are you looking forward to during your doctoral studies?
The whole journey of getting to dive deeper into my research field while gradually becoming a more independent researcher. I am particularly looking forward to developing my skills in biostatistics and epidemiology, and to learning new statistical analysis methods that I can apply in my studies. I am also excited about attending international conferences and exchanging research experiences and ideas with other researchers