Taru Kekoni

Taru Kekoni is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Eastern Finland's Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Sciences and is a Docent. Her research focuses on interprofessional collaboration, multidisciplinary education, foster care, and client safety in social and health care. She is actively involved in research groups such as the Savilahti Interprofessional Education and Competence Group and the Social Work Research and Education Team.

Key research interests include simulation-based learning, professional identity formation, and the integration of social and health care services. She has contributed to projects like 'Promoting Evidence-Based Practice in Social Work' (2025–2026). Her work emphasizes practical educational methods and improving multidisciplinary teamwork in healthcare and social work settings.

Publications span topics like interprofessional ethics, foster care child development, and client safety. She has co-authored books such as *Vuorovaikutus työelämässä: Kuinka edistää yhteistyötaitoja* (2024) and contributed to edited volumes on client safety in social and health care. Her teaching focuses on integrating social work expertise through innovative pedagogical approaches.

Research highlights include studies on interprofessional simulation learning, the role of multidisciplinary collaboration in child welfare, and ethical decision-making in healthcare education. Her work bridges theory and practice, aiming to enhance professional competence and client-centered service delivery.