Adela Popa

Adela Popa is Associate Professor of Medical Sociology in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania. Her broad research interests are related to the impact of chronic illnesses, including cancer, on work and professional career, the healthcare reform and health policy. The research on cancer and work is young in Romania as up to 2017 no studies on this topic were done. Following her membership in the COST network Cancer and Work, Adela Popa became aware of the lack of psycho-social studies in this area, although workers, employers and other stakeholders faced significant difficulties regarding work reintegration. In 2015 she received funding in a national competition for doing the first Romanian study on return to work after cancer, which provided not only interesting findings but also a new perspective in the field since Romania, similar with other Central and Eastern European countries, has a particular profile regarding sickness absence policies, work rehabilitation and professional reintegration after chronic illness. Between 2019-2021 she coordinated the Romanian team in an international project delivered by a consortium of six countries which focused on the role of various stakeholders including trade unions in return to work after chronic illness. Currently (2021-2023), she conducts a third national funded study on how workers, employers, health professionals and nongovernment organisations in Romania perceive the situation of working with chronic illnesses and are involved in the process.