Outi Hakola

Outi Hakola is a University Lecturer in Qualitative Research Methods at the University of Eastern Finland’s Department of Health and Social Management within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. Her expertise spans death studies, cultural studies, film and television analysis, and medical humanities. She holds Master’s degrees in Media Studies and Comparative Literature from the University of Turku (2005, 2003) and a PhD in film studies (2011). Her research focuses on end-of-life documentaries, demedicalization of death, and qualitative methodologies. Notably, she served as an Academy of Finland Research Fellow (2017–2022) and holds docent positions at the Universities of Helsinki and Turku. Her work bridges cinematic representation with healthcare, emphasizing ethical and cultural dimensions. Recent projects include studies on visual ethnography in social medicine and digital pedagogy innovations. She has authored/co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and edited volumes, with a focus on media’s role in shaping perceptions of health, mortality, and well-being.

Education:

• PhD in Film Studies, University of Turku (2011)
• MA in Media Studies (2005), Comparative Literature (2003)

Key Research Interests: Documentary cinema on end-of-life care, medical humanities, qualitative research methods, and visual ethnography in healthcare contexts. She critiques medicalization trends and explores cultural narratives around death through film and media.

Awards & Roles:

• Academy of Finland Research Fellow (2017–2022)
• Docent in Area & Cultural Studies (University of Helsinki)
• Docent in Societal Media Studies (University of Turku)

Grants & Projects: Lead researcher on projects like “Constructing Good Death” and “Media visibility of medicines” (2024–2026). Collaborates with institutions such as the University of Helsinki and international partners on media ethics and health communication.

Labs/Teams: Active in multidisciplinary teams at the University of Eastern Finland, focusing on health communication and qualitative methodologies.