Back on home turf in Kansas City!

Waving goodbye to Akureyri on my way to Reykjavik.

After nearly six weeks in Iceland serving as a Fulbright Specialist it is good to return home to Kansas City and the University of Kansas Medical Center. While it was a very fruitful and successful trip, I am happy to be back with my fellow Jayhawks.

As I get settled back into my normal routine at KU Medical Center, I thought I would share one last batch of photographs from my stops in Akureyri and Reykjavik.

Inside of Harpa, a concert hall and conference center in Reykjavik. Below I'm standing with my host, Kjartan Olafsson, in front of Harpa.

This is Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik. Located in the middle of the city, the church is one of Reykjavík's best-known landmarks. Standing 244 feet tall it is the tallest church in Iceland and is visible throughout the city.

Stefan Yngvason, M.D., is director of rehabilitation medicine at Landspitali University Hospital (the National University Hospital of Iceland) in Reykjavik. Below is a presentation I gave at the hospital.

 

Belinda Theriault is executive director of the Iceland-U.S. Fulbright Commission in Reykjavik. Rún Jóhannsdóttir, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Science in psychology at Reykvajik University.

    Goodbye Iceland

Visiting a rehabilitation hospital in Akureyri

Just a quick update from today. I spent time visiting the rehabilitation hospital in Akureyri, where I also did a presentation for the staff.

Getting down to business at the University of Akureyri

Time to get down to business with my colleagues here in Iceland. These pictures are from a meeting to discuss international collaborations and student exchanges.

Pictured are: Ragnheiður Harpa Arnardóttir, PT, PhD, Ragnheiður Harpa Arnardóttir, PT, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri; Eydis Kristin Sveinbjarnardottir, Ph.D., dean of the School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri; Kjartan Ólafsson, Ph.D. candidate head of faculty of Social Sciences and Law, University of Akureyri, and Dean Akinwuntan’s host professor; Dean Akinwuntan; Sigfríður Inga Karlsdóttir, MSc, Ph.D. candidate, associate professor and head of Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri; Bergljot Borg, PT, MSc, MPM, adjunct professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri.

Solrun Svava Kjartansdottir is the daughter of my host family. She acquired the KU Medical Center School of Health Professions sweatshirt shortly after I gave it to her father as a gift.

Rock Chalk

Dean Akinwuntan

More updates from Iceland

Heading down the home stretch of my journey to Iceland

I have enjoyed my time teaching a class in motor cognition here at the University of Akureyri.

It’s hard to believe, but I am already wrapping up my stay here in Iceland. While here at the University of Akureyri, my primary duty has been teaching a class in motor cognition.

I will be leaving Akureyri on Thursday for three scheduled vists and presentations in Rehkjavik, the country’s capital. And on Tuesday, Nov. 15, I will make my final departure from Iceland and return to the United States.

Pictures in today's post are courtesy of the official photographers here at the university.

 

Here I am with my host, Kjartan Olafsson, head of faculty of Social Sciences and Law, University of Akureyri.

Staying busy as winter starts settling into Iceland

As you can see from the photograph above, ice is starting to form on the mountains, which they tell me is one of the first signs that winter is truly settling in. I've been staying busy with lectures, both for graduate students at the university and at the hospital. I've also been meeting a lot of interesting people while on my stay here in Iceland. I can't wait to share some of what I am learning from the faculty and students at the University of Akureyri and the hospital.

.

These two pictures are from the presentation I gave today at the hospital titled “Virtual Reality and Health Care.”

This photo is from a lecture to the Masters of Health Science students at the 

University of Akureyri.

Here is the entrance to the hospital in Akureyri known as “Sjukrahusid A Akureyri” in Icelandic.

Here I am in the operating room at Akureyri Hospital with Nicholas Cariglia, M.D.,

one of the gastroenterologists.

Sigurdur E. Sigurdsson, M.D., chief medical officer at the hospital in Akureyri with Nicholas Cariglia, M.D.

 Left: Myself and Dr. Ragnheidur Harpa Arnardottir.

Below: Myself and her son, Atli Guðjónsson,  and the husband Guðjón Kristjánsson, M.D.,  a gastroenterologist.