Meet the winner: Andrea Kusec
Andrea Kusec is a PhD student in Medical Science at Fitzwilliam College, who has recently won a Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Award.
Her nominator said that she has been an inspirational role model advocating and contributing for change in brain injury services:
“She works directly with people who have suffered a brain injury and has been an advocate for improved funding for related services. (…) She has made a tremendous impact on the lives of so many people affected by brain injuries. (…) At all fronts, she is an inspiring leader who deserves recognition for her tremendous work.”
Andrea has been volunteering at Addenbrooke’s Hospital with individuals with brain injury since moving to Cambridge in 2017, on a weekly basis.
“At Addenbrooke’s, a lot of my role is supporting patients through a difficult transition period. Addenbrooke’s is largely an acute care hospital, so many patients are still waiting to undergo surgery, hear back important health care information, or learn about what is the next step for them following acute care.This can create a lot of anxiety, and often my role is to provide a set of ears to listen and give a space to talk about these things.
However, another essential (and possibly more fun!) part of my role is providing some humour into a patients’ time at the hospital. Usually people with a brain injury stay in hospital for a long time (2–3 months is common) so boredom and depression can set in quickly. Although it seems like a simple thing, taking on the role of a comedienne can be more effective than one might believe. All of these small conversations make patients’ time at Addenbrooke’s a little easier, but indirectly can help them feel prepared for their post-hospital life. Aside from this, I support hospital staff as needed — such as serving cups of tea (very important for care!). Hospital staff is already overburdened, so any little impact I can make adds up to a greater chain of support within the ward.”
Andrea also mentors other volunteers at the Hospital and feels that inspiring others has been her biggest achievement:
“Social change does not happen from the efforts of a single individual, but by the combined passion and dedication of myriad people. Research, politics, funding, and health care services focused on improving care in brain injury is conducted by a relatively small group of people internationally. As a volunteer, I have the opportunity to get other individuals interested in brain injury, and even if they decide not to continue professionally into the field, they have an awareness of what challenges survivors face, and what brings about a positive change. Many of the volunteers I have been lucky to mentor are curious, intelligent, and motivated, and have told me that they plan to pursue brain injury work in the future, and I cannot imagine a greater good I can do than support those passionate about change.”
Observing public funding cuts in many essential services for brain injury survivors, in her role as a Social Officer for the Gates Cambridge Scholars Council she has organised many successful fundraising campaigns and events to support the Epilepsy Society and Headway Cambridge.
“We have so many tools to help give people with brain injury a high quality of life, we just need to be able to provide access to it and effectively disseminate it.”
She has also provided consultancy to Headway, alongside other Gates scholars, enabling the charity to develop a horticultural therapy programme with potential to be implemented across the country.
Andrea felt truly honoured upon receiving the award:
Andrea’s research is also focused on brain injury patients’ rehabilitation. You can learn more about her work here.