Interview with: Holger Muehlan, PhD
Health & Medical University Erfurt, Germany
Holger Muehlan, PhD, has been an ISOQOL member for many years. He is one of the newest Associate Editors for the Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes (JPRO), having started his term in March 2025.
In an interview with ISOQOL, the Associate Editor talks about his experience with the Society and lets members get to know him better.
Can you tell a little about your journey to becoming an Associate Editor?
Holger Muehlan (HM): First and foremost, I have served as an ad hoc peer reviewer for almost a decade, conducting numerous reviews for both ISOQOL journals. Additionally, I have gained experience as an Associate Editor for another Springer journal. Specifically, at the ISOQOL 2019 Annual Conference in San Diego, I participated in a roundtable hosted by the Founding Editors-in-Chief of JPRO. This experience provided me with a clear understanding of the expectations for this role. Despite this, my strong connection to the ISOQOL community, where I have volunteered in various roles and activities over the years, led me to believe that the time was right to apply for the position of Associate Editor for JPRO.
How long have you been a member of ISOQOL and why did you join?
HM: I’m not entirely sure, but I think I’ve been a member of ISOQOL since 2013; I’ve been attending the conference regularly since the 2014 Annual Conference in Berlin and have only missed the one in Philadelphia since. However, I already knew ISOQOL well since 2003, when I started working in Academia. My PhD supervisor had been strongly involved in the ISOQOL since the early days back in the 90ies.
What is your favorite thing about ISOQOL?
HM: It’s all about the community. Both professionally and personally. Over the years I’ve met so many great colleagues that I would never have met without ISOQOL. This has resulted in close friendships and professional collaborations in equal measure. During the pandemic, being virtually together with the ISOQOL community was striking. There were many activities ongoing, and I participated in several working groups, so the pandemic was a kind of incubator for networking between members, at least for me.
What would you say to other professionals who may be considering becoming an ISOQOL member?
HM: Whoever is more involved and engaged in HRQL research cannot really miss joining ISOQOL because it is the place that brings the peers together. Sometimes it happens that you just get to know your peers at the ISOQOL, even though they work just around the corner. For instance, I met someone for the first time at the ISOQOL conference in Berlin, even though both of us were connected to research groups in the same hospital for many years. Likewise, at the ISOQOL conference in Prague, someone from the UK was curious that I was from Greifswald, a small university town in Germany. It turns out that he had been there because of a cooperation with someone I didn’t know before. Imagine there would be no place like the ISOQOL – probably I would have never ever heard of them and would have missed to get in contact with so many people from the community, whether those from the other side of the globe or those from the other part of the town.
What member benefits do you value and use the most?
HM: I think the access to great networks, both informal and formal. For example, the opportunity to get involved in Special Interest Groups, volunteer in various activities or make contacts to start new projects or working groups. All these activities bring you into contact with like-minded people that you often didn’t know before. For example, I got to know a lot of people while serving as a Chair of the Child Health SIG.
What do you love most about HRQL research?
HM: HRQL research is essentially interdisciplinary research. Here it is not just a label or a buzzword but is at the heart of our lived experience. This reminds me of the motto of our last 2024 Annual Conference “All different together.” Scientific communities often tend to be monodisciplinary because they are tied to specific (sub)disciplines. In contrast, ISOQOL is dedicated to a field of research, a shared topic, and a common interest. Therefore, HRQL research offers many opportunities to connect with so many different people, some of whom have had a lasting impact on me.
What’s your biggest (or one of your biggest) professional accomplishment(s) so far?
HM: I remember a project that we undertook a few years ago. It had long been close to the hearts of both my lifelong mentor and steadfast supporter, Silke Schmidt (who, by the way, is also a former ISOQOL board member), and myself. It was a project we had tried several times to secure funding for, so by the time it was approved, it was quite well-prepared. And, most importantly, we were fortunate to have Klara Greffin join our team. She is an outstanding researcher, deeply passionate about HRQL research, and simply one of the best colleagues anyone could ask for. So, we couldn’t even have imagined it any better.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
HM: Don’t underestimate the power of mentoring, so never stop being a mentee yourself. In my case, I was lucky enough to have an incredibly supportive colleague and mentor at ISOQOL, John Chaplin from Sweden, who supported me in so many ways that I don’t think he even realizes how much of an impact he had on me. At that time, he took me under his wing and introduced me to many colleagues in the community, which eventually led to me being nominated to chair the Child Health SIG. Unfortunately, he retired last year, but I very much hope that one day I will be able to visit him in his hometown.
What’s one thing you learned in the last month?
HM: In terms of research, I am currently very interested in bioethical research, especially the ethical challenges of self-use of health technologies by lay people. It’s also a very interdisciplinary field in terms of the disciplines involved, the methods used, and the topics covered. Privately, I have recently learnt a lot about some Central Asian countries. During a trip through this region, I came into contact with many people and was impressed by the large cities, the huge landscapes and the very diverse cultural heritage.
What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?
HM: My close friends know, but most of my colleagues don’t, that I need quite little sleep, at least less than average. Once a school friend told me that back in boarding school, he was quite envious of the fact that I had more time in each day. This seems to be more of an advantage, but it doesn’t apply at all times: imagine being the only one who wakes up early when everyone else is still asleep. This can be quite annoying and boring if you’re in a tent or a dorm with a group of friends and you don’t want to be the jerk who wakes everyone else up by making noises, walking around and switching on the lights.
What’s one of your favorite ISOQOL memories?
HM: My fondest ISOQOL memories revolve around group activities, particularly the informal gatherings of our Child Health SIG. These meetings have evolved into a cherished tradition over the years, fostering closer connections with numerous international colleagues. This tradition began with the inaugural meeting in Vancouver in 2015, and I vividly recall each subsequent gathering., e.g., the one at the beautiful harbour in San Diego or the most recent one at a traditional beerhall in Cologne.
Is there anything else you would like to share with ISOQOL membership (e.g., current projects you are working on)?
HM: Perhaps it is worth noting that child health research in Germany recently has received a significant boost with the establishment of a new decentralized research infrastructure. This German Centre for Child and Adolescent Heath supports research activities at specialized institutions, including my former department at the University of Greifswald. Several ISOQOL members are involved in these initiatives, and I anticipate that these efforts will also garner interest by our HRQL research community.
This newsletter editorial represents the views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ISOQOL.
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