In 2015, Prof. Dr. Maren Stamer was appointed Professor of Qualitative Research Methods in Health and Social Services at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin. Prior to this, she worked as a research assistant at the Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research at Hannover Medical School, as well as at Bremen University of Applied Sciences and Arts and the University of Bremen. She received her doctorate in public health from the University of Bremen in 2011. She had previously trained as a nurse, which was followed by a degree in education.
Maren Stamer's achievements are extremely varied. She was active in a wide variety of research areas and in several degree courses, often acting as a pioneer and carrying out important development work.
From the very beginning, she proved to be a committed and far-sighted university lecturer in the Health and Nursing Management degree courses, later in the Bachelor's degree course in Management and Care in Healthcare, as well as in the Master's degree course in Management and Quality Development in Healthcare. She was also involved in teaching and module responsibility for many semesters on the Bachelor's degree course in Social Work and the Master's degree course in Practice Research in Social Work and Education. Right at the beginning of her work at ASH Berlin in 2015, she prudently and attentively supported the anchoring of qualitative methods and the founding committees in the Public Health program of the Berlin School of Public Health.
She played a decisive role in the conception and founding of the primary qualifying nursing degree program. Here, too, she was active in appointment committees and practice networks and developed concepts for modules and the skills labs.
Maren Stamer was very well networked professionally, for example as a member of the DFG network Qualitative Health Research, which has equal representation from universities and colleges. The discussion papers she helped to produce there are important contributions to the professional discourse and are also very useful for teaching.
For Maren Stamer, (gender) justice and participation were outstanding topics in her work, to which she repeatedly devoted herself and never avoided discussion. She has published extensively on the often lengthy, yet goal-oriented paths of participatory decision-making in the healthcare sector and is therefore a proven expert not only on qualitative research methods, but also on approaches such as shared decision making in the medical field.
Maren Stamer's interest in her colleagues and in exchanging ideas with them has always been evident. In addition to her great commitment to the various degree programs and research, she was always available for collegial matters.
She was a passionate and demanding lecturer who brought lecturers into an appreciative, regular exchange, developed further ideas and invested an infinite amount of time in her detailed and well-founded feedback to students on examination results. Giving students learning and development opportunities was a matter close to her heart. She was able to inspire many for her topics and gave them important impulses for their careers, as can be seen from the large number of academic staff and lecturers who are still working at ASH Berlin today and are very close to Maren Stamer. Bilateral talks or discussions in small teams often took place in her office, unfortunately not often enough in retrospect, but always over a good cup of tea.
Students always turned to her in confidence, especially when there were challenges, problems and crises. Everyone knew that she would - somehow - find time to listen to them, look for solutions and support them individually.
At Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, she was held in high esteem by colleagues, administrative staff and students alike as a very reliable, critical but always respectful and supportive professor. Maren Stamer was straightforward and had clear values that she stood up for. Her sharp mind, precise language and crystal-clear arguments were an enrichment for professional discussions. At the same time, she was curious and warm.
With Maren Stamer, Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin and the associated degree programs have lost a committed and important driving force in the tradition of our university's values, who accompanied, supported and shaped countless students on their academic path, even beyond ASH Berlin. Her colleagues, staff and students will sorely miss her wisdom, prudence and perseverance as well as the personal discussions and professional exchanges.
Her death is a great loss for all those who were able to work and learn with her. We have lost a committed, intelligent and combative colleague and a passionate university lecturer.
Our condolences go out to her wife, parents, siblings and their families.
The funeral service and burial will take place on January 16, 2024 at 1:15 pm at Huckelriede Cemetery (Habenhauser Landstr. 70, 28277 Bremen).
A memorial book will be available at ASH Berlin until the end of January, in which students, alumni, colleagues and companions are welcome to enter memories, tributes and condolences. The book will later be handed over to the relatives.
