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Julia Chiossi has a passion for bringing people together and facilitating interpersonal communication and interactions. With a background as a speech therapist and researcher, she completed her MSCA ITN in 2023 and now works in clinical research management in the industry. Originally from Brazil, she currently lives in Copenhagen, where she supports the MCAA as the Chair of the Denmark Chapter.
How does it feel to win the award?
It was unexpected and, at the same time, reassuring. Our group in the Denmark Chapter Board has dedicated time and energy to revitalising the Chapter, and this recognition brings extra motivation. It shows that we are on the right path, and personally, I feel re-energised.
Julia Chiossi
What journey led you to this award?
Our Chapter faced some challenges before the last elections, having gone over a year without a Chair. During that time, activities stopped, members became disengaged, and collaborations faded. Over the past year and a half, we have worked to turn things around. We have grown our membership by approximately 30%, reaching 282 members, and relaunched networking events to bring our members back together. Additionally, we established new partnerships with local universities, which led to three thematic workshops, even in the face of limited resources.
How will this award propel you in your future endeavours?
The award brings not only motivation, but it also provides visibility for the Denmark Chapter. It is an opportunity to highlight the actions we have taken and to inspire engagement in future activities. My hope is that it will attract more members, strengthen collaborations, and open doors for future initiatives.
What are your future goals?
My main goal this year for the Denmark Chapter is to strengthen our relationships with local stakeholders. The aim is to increase awareness of the MCAA initiatives and ensure our members gain even more value from being part of the association and the Chapter.
What advice do you have for the MCAA?
Chapters are key to increasing member engagement, as they understand local needs and are a way to translate the MCAA’s strategy into something meaningful to the members. My advice would be to further empower the Chapters by strengthening their agency, providing more support for engaging with regional stakeholders, and increasing opportunities to gather feedback.
Is there anything else you wish to share with the community?
I have to emphasise that no actions are done alone. I must acknowledge my colleagues in the Denmark Chapter Board, namely Ana M. Martin Gonzalez, George Anasontzis, Hüsnü Aslan and Thomas Paster for all their work. Thank you for all the collaboration.
Eliška Koňaříková
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MCAA Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
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Polat Goktas
Orcid
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MCAA Newsletter Managing Editor
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Attendees of the How do I get my ideas funded? workshop organised by the Chapter. The event was held at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.