Iris Kanera

A 231 About the author ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in Germany, 1971, Iris Maria Kanera attended secondary school at Gymnasium Remigianum in Borken. In 1991, she started her Sports Science study at German Sport University Cologne, later changing to study Physiotherapy at Zuyd University of Applied Science in Heerlen, the Netherlands. After graduating in 1996, she began her career as a Physiotherapist at the Adelante Rehabilitation Center in Hoensbroek, the Netherlands, and at Thuso Rehabilitation Center Maun, Botswana. From 1997 to 2002, Iris completed a part-time Health Sciences study, with a specialization in Health Education, at Maastricht University, the Netherlands. During and after this study, she worked as a Physiotherapist at Zuyderland Medical Center and as a Health Coach at Orbis Vigor Prevention Center, both in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands. During this period, Iris was actively engaged in applied research projects and she was a guest lecturer for various educational institutes. Her practical experience was mainly focused on pain rehabilitation and the promotion of healthy (lifestyle) behaviors among different target groups. In 2011, Iris continued to pursue her scientific ambitions as a Junior Researcher at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Maastricht University. Her research focused on diabetes type 2 patients with painful neuropathy who experienced problems with daily life activities. The results provided important input for the rehabilitation practice and further research in this field. In 2013, Iris started her PHD-studentship at the Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences at the Open University of the Netherlands. Together with her research team she developed and evaluated an online computer-tailored intervention for cancer survivors, the Cancer Aftercare Guide (Kanker Nazorg Wijzer). The results have been published in various international journals and presented at several national and international conferences. As a result of this successful project, the Kanker Nazorg Wijzer will now be nationally implemented by the Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2018. From autumn 2017, Iris has been directly involved in the preparations for the program implementation. Iris is currently working as a researcher and lecturer at Zuyd University of Applied Science in Heerlen at the Research Center of Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Exercise and at the School of Physiotherapy.