Category: de Tornyay Center News

Eriska Fajriyati is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and one of the de Tornyay center for Healthy Aging’s 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholars. Her project is on “Exploring Perceptions of Aging and Menopause in Somali and Indonesian Older Adults: A Qualitative Study” and her faculty mentor is Eeeseung Byun. Sarah McKiddy, a PhD in Nursing Science Candidate and former de Tornyay Center scholar is also serving as Fajriyati’s mentor.

Why did you choose nursing?

I’ve always been drawn to healthcare because I truly want to make a difference in people’s lives. When I was younger, I was part of a club called “Little Healthcare Helper,” and that’s when I first started thinking about healthcare as my path. At the time, I wasn’t sure exactly where I’d end up, but I knew I wanted to help people. Eventually, I became a CNA and worked with residents, many of whom had Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, and that’s when I really discovered my love for nursing. I enjoy hands-on work, being able to interact with people, earn their trust, and offer them comfort. Nursing also gives me so many opportunities to grow and take on new challenges, which is exciting. It’s just such a rewarding field to be in, and it feels like the perfect fit for me. Nursing also offers incredible opportunities for growth, whether it’s exploring other specializations or advancing to a nurse practitioner. The diversity of options is really exciting!

What made you want to do a research project?

A big part of why I decided to do this research project is because of my mom and her friends. They’re at the age of either starting or experiencing menopause and started asking me a lot of questions about it. I realized that I didn’t know enough to give them the answers they were looking for, and that really sparked my curiosity. As a nursing student, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into understanding menopause—not just for my mom and her friends, but also to raise awareness in my community. My goal is to help people understand menopause better, particularly within the Indonesian community, and ensure they have access to the right resources. Through this research, I hope to improve how menopause is discussed and managed, both in my community and in healthcare overall.

Could you share a little more about your research project?

My project is focused on exploring the perception of aging and menopause in both Somali and Indonesian communities. I’m working closely with my mentors Professor Eeeseung Byun and Sarah McKiddy, as well as my co-partner, Sumaya. Together, Sumaya and I are interviewing people from our respective communities to understand their experiences with menopause. We want to learn about the symptoms, beliefs, and cultural factors that influence how they manage this stage of life. For our interviews, we’ve created questions in English, then translated them into Bahasa Indonesia and Somali to make sure we’re truly capturing authentic perspectives. I’m excited because this project is not just about learning for myself, but also about providing valuable insights that can lead to more culturally sensitive healthcare in the future.

Has there any been anything that surprised you so far while working on the project?

I’ve discovered something quite interesting about the people I’m interviewing within my Indonesian community. I initially thought menopause would be a more taboo or stigmatized topic in my community, but it turns out it’s not as hidden as I expected. People are open to discussing it, but they tend to do so only within their close circles or when the topic arises naturally in conversation. What’s also surprising is that many individuals rely on traditional remedies—such as drinking a traditional Indonesian drink called Jamu or practicing meditation/praying—to manage their symptoms. Another common piece of advice I frequently hear is to maintain a positive outlook and not to dwell too much on the discomforts associated with menopause. This perspective differs from what I anticipated based on the literature I reviewed, and it has been fascinating to see how cultural beliefs influence the experience and management of menopause.

What interests you about healthy aging in general? What is your experience like working with older adults?

Healthy aging is something I’m really passionate about because it’s such a crucial part of everyone’s life. We’re all going to grow older, and it’s not just about taking care of our bodies—it’s also about looking after our emotional and mental well-being. For me, understanding how culture influences aging is really important, and how we can best support people in that process. I’ve seen firsthand how cultural beliefs shape health practices, like how in my community, people drink Jamu to manage menopausal symptoms. These experiences really made me see how vital cultural competence is in healthcare.

I’ve been working with older adults for over four years now, mostly in senior living and Alzheimer’s dementia units. Working with them has been such a rewarding experience. It’s shown me that aging is about so much more than just physical health—it’s about emotional, mental, and social well-being too. One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is helping create spaces where older adults feel supported and connected. It’s inspired me to focus on improving their quality of life and making sure they can age with dignity, joy, and comfort.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be doing this research, especially with the support of the scholarship. It allows me to focus more on my studies and my interests. It’s exciting to learn not only for my own understanding but also for the benefit of my community. Through this research, I hope to raise awareness about menopause in both the Somali and Indonesian communities and improve how healthcare providers approach it.

Antonia Cai is a UW School of Nursing BSN student and one of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging’s 2024-2025 Healthy Aging Undergraduate Research Scholars. Her research project is on “The influence of physical activity and diet quality on the symptom experience of older adults with HIV”, and her faculty mentor is Vitor Oliveira.

What made you choose nursing?

I chose nursing because I always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I appreciate how nursing offers a wide range of opportunities, flexibility, and room for professional growth within a single career. Beyond bedside nursing, I can become a nurse practitioner and provide advanced care, engage in research to expand the field, work in clinical settings serving diverse populations, or even pursue a career in nursing education.

Moving to the U.S. as a teenager, I witnessed firsthand how healthcare operates and saw my parents struggle at times to navigate the system. That experience inspired me to become someone who understands the system and can provide support in meaningful ways.

What interests you about healthy aging?

My grandmother, who played a significant role in my upbringing, has been living alone since I moved to the U.S. with my parents. I spent a lot of time with her during my childhood, and not being able to be physically present as she experiences aging has weighed on my mind. This personal connection fuels my interest in healthy aging—I want to help not only her but also others who are aging alone. She is just one of many facing similar challenges, and I want to contribute to improving their quality of life.

Have you had past experience working with older adults?

Yes, my first job as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) was at Evergreen Hospital on the orthopedic floor, where I cared for many elderly patients. I saw how quickly their health status could change in the hospital setting, and I realized how aging and chronic illnesses significantly impact their recovery. While younger patients might heal quickly from a fracture, the same injury could be far more debilitating for an older adult.

I also noticed that many elderly patients had limited resources for recovery and, at times, did not seek help due to mental health struggles or a lack of support. One of the most important things I learned from working with older adults is how deeply mental and physical health are interconnected.

Could you briefly talk about the project that you’re doing for the de Tornyay Center scholarship?

My project examines how physical activity and diet quality impact symptom management in older adults living with HIV. This research is connected to the ongoing projects at the Webel Lab, where I work under my mentor, Dr. Oliveira. While the lab has been studying this topic for years, I am conducting a more focused analysis on how diet and exercise influence the experiences of individuals with this chronic condition.

How did you first get involved with this research?

Before pursuing nursing, I earned my first degree in nutrition, where I gained extensive training in how the food system—from production to consumption—affects public health.

When I had the opportunity to apply for the BSN honors program and receive support for research, I expressed my interest in the connection between nutrition and aging. This led me to Dr. Oliveira and the Webel Lab, where their research aligned closely with my interests in nutrition and exercise. That’s how I became involved in this project.

How do you feel like your background in nutrition influences your work as a nurse?

I firmly believe that we are what we eat—nutrition and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in overall health. My background in public health and nutrition helped me develop a systematic way of thinking about how different factors—biological, social, and environmental—interact to shape health outcomes.

In nursing, I see how many illnesses stem from a complex web of influences, including socioeconomic factors and social determinants of health. Many chronic conditions are passed down through generations due to these systemic influences. That’s why I believe in taking a holistic approach to patient care, considering multiple perspectives beyond just medical treatment. My nutrition background has strengthened my ability to assess patients’ health through a broader lens.

With the project that you’re working on, has there been anything that’s surprised you that you’ve learned or seen?

The level of rigor required at every step! From the initial proposal stage to data collection, everything must follow strict protocols. Even minor deviations from the approved methodology require resubmission and reevaluation before moving forward.

This experience has reinforced the importance of precision and attention to detail—not just in research but also in clinical practice. I’ve learned to approach every step with intention, knowing that careful execution is critical in both research and patient care.