Hello friends,

I'm Esther Kentish and I have been accepted to present my research over PANDEMICS, ENDMICS, and COVID-19 IN TOKYO, JAPAN!!!

If we are not already friends, I would like to take time to introduce myself to you.

I am a TEDx speaker, a published author, a member of the Royal Society of Literature, and an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Medicine. I am the author of eight books and have worked in medicine and the arts and studied several subjects. I have a Bachelor of Arts (2017) in English Literature and Language with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Master of Science (2018) in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University and a Master of Science (2020) in Medical Humanities from King's College London. I matriculated at the University of Oxford in 2020 and studied English for two years.

I have worked with patients in a hospital as a Mental Health Technician in the geriatric unit in North Carolina, United States, and am currently working in Britain on COVID-19 research and patient narratives. I am enthusiastic about utilising qualitative tools such as metadata analysis and data visualisation as well as artistic tools (particularly performing arts such as spoken word poetry, music, and dance) to communicate statistical value and medical information regarding the aetiology and progression of the disease.

My PhD is housed at the University of Leicester, primarily supervised in the English Department with secondary supervision from the medical school in the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare. My project requires me to also work with external organisations such as the National Health Service (NHS), the British Library, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the Medical Research Council.

Since 2019, I have presented several COVID-19-related themes to academic as well as non-academic audiences. One of these presentations was a podcast at King's College London, where I worked as a Narrative Medicine Researcher during the initial wave of the pandemic. I have presented my research at conferences with the aim of educating others about the pandemic. Last month in April 2023, I visited Texas Tech University and presented my research on COVID-19, patient narratives, doctor narratives, and carer narratives. The support I recieved helped to make this trip possible.

The conference that I am raising funding for will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023 - Monday, May 29, 2023, at Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo, Japan.

I am doing (3) Tiers of fundraising:

Tier 1: (£220) - Conference Fee

Tier 2: (£900) - Accommodation/Transportation

Tier 3: (£1,500) - Flight

Final Total: £2,620

I am hoping that my presentation at the IAOFR conference in Japan will contribute to understanding the COVID-19 pandemic, its relevance as an endemic, and the critical awareness of how life writing, autobiography, and biography help us tell the story of COVID-19 in our communities and throughout the world.

I want people to know the impact of writers during this very recent moment in time and know the lived experiences of doctors in the ICU, nurses who are supporting these units, and caregivers at home. That is why I am asking for your help. With your resources and support for academic success and educational attainment, we could make an incredible difference.

Would you be willing to donate to help my academic endeavours?

I am seeking funds to cover conference registration, travel, and housing expenses. By receiving support, I will be able to present my academic work on the literary nuances and medicinal innovations of COVID-19 in conferences abroad and to highlight the University of Leicester's research strengths internationally. Even partial support for my academic endeavours would enable me, as a self-funded student, to acquire new humanities ideas, concepts, and insights. In addition, attending these conferences will help me advance in my research career, provide an opportunity to meet potential collaborators, and contribute to the institution's research sophistication. I have already visited Texas as showcased in my last fundraiser and was excited to document my journey with you all.

I would be pleased to offer any further details required to support my donation request.