Writings and Research
Academic Career
Master of Theology, awarded 24 May 1999
Major subject: advanced studies in theological ethics and philosophy of religion, graded excellent.
Master’s thesis: Opillinen epäily ja oppikritiikki viimeaikaisessa suomalaisessa teologiassa (Doctrinal Doubt and Critique of Doctrine in Recent Finnish Theology), graded eximia cum laude approbatur.
Minor studies in practical theology, completed 2 November 2009
Advanced studies graded excellent. Minor thesis graded excellent.
Doctor of Theology, awarded 16 October 2018
Doctoral dissertation: Kun vauvaonni vaihtuu kuoleman suruun – narratiivinen tutkimus kohtukuolemasta, lapsen kuoleman aiheuttamasta surusta ja selviytymisprosessista sekä kirkon tuesta
(The expected baby was stillborn, but still a baby – A narrative study of stillbirth, parental grieving and recovery processes afterwards, and the role of the Church)
Scientific Conferences and Seminars
Presentation at Meaningful relations in aging and dying -conference, Helsinki, Finland (August 2019)
Presentation at ECCP: Feeling Felt – Challenges for Pastoral Care and Counselling -conference, Järvenpää, Finland (August 2018)
Poster presentation at The International Stillbirth Alliance Conference, Cork, Ireland (September 2017)
Presentation at The International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant Survival, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (September 2014)
Poster presentation at The International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant Survival, Baltimore, USA (October 2012)
Presentation at Nordiska kyrkohistoriska perspektiv -seminar, Sigtuna, Sweden (November 2011)
Presentation at surukonferenssi (national grief conference), Jyväskylä, Finland (March 2012)
Presentation at 2nd Nordic Symposium of Death and Dying: Death, Dying and Bereavement – Nordic Perspectives, Helsinki, Finland (April 2012)
Presentations at surukonferenssi (national grief conference), Tampere, Finland (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
Chair of scientific session at surukonferenssi (national grief conference), Tampere, Finland (April 2015)
Publications Related to Research Topic
Article Surun matkassa (Journeying with Grief), published in Palliatiivinen hoito, 2021
Articles Surua on tutkittu jo vuosisatojen ajan (Grief Has Been Studied for Centuries), Suru ja kristinusko (Grief and Christianity), Surun ja muistamisen rituaalit (Rituals of Grieving and Remembering) and Kaipaamme tunnustusta surullemme (We Long for Recognition of Our Grief), in Suru (Ed. Tuuli Lahti), Duodecim 2020
Co-author of Surun matkassa – sururyhmän ohjaajan opas (Journeying with Grief – A Guide for Grief Group Facilitators) with Eija Harmanen, Eeva-Liisa Hurmerinta and Hanna Pulkkinen, Sacrum 2020
Book Surun virrassa – läheisensä menettäneen sielunhoito (In the Stream of Grief – Pastoral Care for the Bereaved), Kirjapaja 2019
Article Kun vauvaonni vaihtuu kuoleman suruun: Lectio Praecursoria Helsingin yliopistossa 21.9.2018 (When the Joy of a Baby Turns into the Grief of Death: Lectio Praecursoria at the University of Helsinki), in Diakonian tutkimus aikakauskirja 2/2018
Article Lapsen menettäminen ja suru. Miten tunnistaa erityisessä tuen tarpeessa olevat surevat? (Losing a Child and Grief. How to Identify Those in Special Need of Support?), Duodecim 133(22):2110–2115, 2017*
Abstract Narratives about having a stillborn child and the support from the Church, in proceedings of The International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant Survival, Amsterdam 2014*
Article Kuolleena syntynyt lapsi Suomen evankelis-luterilaisen kirkon toimitusten kirjoissa 1694–2003 (The Stillborn Child in the Liturgical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland 1694–2003), Thanatos 2/2012*
Abstract Effective support in the light of Communicative Action Theory – Narratives about having a Stillborn Child and help of The Church, in proceedings of The International Conference on Stillbirth, SIDS and Infant Survival, Baltimore 2012*
Book review in Teologinen aikakauskirja 2/2017 of Mari Pulkkinen’s dissertation Salattu, suoritettu ja sanaton suru (Hidden, Performed and Wordless Grief)
Book review in Teologinen aikakauskirja 1/2015 of Kantakaa toistenne kuormia: Diakoniatyön perusteet ja käytäntö (Bear One Another’s Burdens: Foundations and Practice of Diaconal Work), ed. Raili Gothóni et al.
Book review in Diakonian tutkimus aikakauskirja 2/2012 of Harri Koskela’s dissertation Lapseni elää aina sydämessäni (My Child Lives Forever in My Heart)
Article Erityistilanteita hautajaisissa (Special Situations in Funerals), with Panu Pihkala, in Crux 6/2015
Article Miten kirkko voi tukea lapsikuolemaperhettä? (How Can the Church Support a Family Facing the Death of a Child?), in Crux 4/2012
* = peer-reviewed
Lectures and Educational Work
Trainer in the grief section of the pastoral course at Järvenpään koulutuskeskus, Järvenpää, Finland (2015–2020)
Numerous invited lectures related to doctoral research, including:
– Lasten palliatiivisen hoidon ja tutkimuksen päivät (National Days of Pediatric Palliative Care and Research), various cities, Finland
– Lääkäripäivät (Finnish Medical Convention), Helsinki, Finland
– Kätilöpäivät (Midwifery Conference), Helsinki, Finland
– Papiston päivät (Annual Clergy Conference), Helsinki, Finland
– Suomen Gynekologi -yhdistyksen kevätpäivät (Spring Conference of the Finnish Society of Gynecology), Helsinki, Finland
– Naistenklinikan koulutuspäivät (Training Days at Helsinki Women’s Hospital), Helsinki, Finland
– HYKS Psykiatrian klinikan tiistailuento (Tuesday Lecture at HUS Psychiatry Clinic), Helsinki, Finland
– Mielenterveysseuran yleisöluentosarja (Mental Health Association Public Lecture Series), various locations, Finland
– Public lectures across Pirkanmaa (Tampere, Hämeenlinna, and Orivesi, Finland)
Other Written Work
Summer journalist at Iltalehti in 1996, 1997 and 1999. Freelance articles published 1996–1999 and 2010–2012.
Contributor for Vantaan Sanomat’s publication services in 1994–1995 – eight full-length articles in various corporate publications
Editorial trainee at Katso magazine, February 1994 – one feature article, one short article, one radio play review and two TV reviews
Editor at Kyyhkynen (journal of the Theological Student Association), 1994; managing editor 1997
Editor-in-chief of Mäntän Joulu, Mänttä, Finland (2000)
Journalist for Etsijä (SKY), 1995
Writings published in Monin kerroin äänessä, Kerron sinulle tarinan 2, and Kerron sinulle tarinan 3
Song lyrics recorded by Kristalli-kuoro on the album Sydänääniä (Heartbeats), 2008
Numerous columns and devotional texts published in Oriveden Sanomat, Orivesi, Finland (2001–2017) and Ruovesi-lehti, Ruovesi, Finland (2016, 2018)
Contributing author to the youth Bible guide Liftari (2010–2013)