As is well known, K2 and K1 have a joint student administration. May 7, we had the annual Teaching Day. Although the attendance was good, it could certainly have been even better. I ask that more people set aside the next day – because the program was important and useful.

Eirik Søfteland (K1) first informed about how OSCE (objective structured clinical exam) in 2018 for the 6th semester was organized and implemented. Well over 300 people were involved in it. Although the OSCE day itself was a logistical challenge to complete both the practical and theoretical evaluation of all the students on the same day, it was without doubt the planning of this which was the biggest challenge. And it actually went smoothly without any special problems! A big thank you to everyone, especially the “OSCE General” Ketil Grong (K2) and Eirik Søfteland (K1).

Responsible for the implementation of this year’s OSCE for the 12th semester is Rune Nielsen (K2). He explained the plans. The date is Thursday, June 6th. This date, all K2 employees must in principle set aside in case they are needed for the implementation of this year’s OSCE. In any case, more examiners are needed. I participated as examinator last year and it was interesting, exciting, and fun. Come on: ask not what K2 can do for you, ask what you can do for K2!

Dean of Teaching Steinar Hunskår informed about the proposed qualification scheme for Outstanding Teachers and how K2 can implement this. In the future, there will be more focus on documented teaching – not just quantity but also quality. Everyone with an academic position must build up a teaching portfolio. Collect documentation about eg. invited lectures, presentations at meetings and seminars, lectures and group teaching, organization of teaching, and others’ evaluation of your efforts. The proposed accreditation scheme will, according to given criteria, designate people who excel especially for the title of Outstanding Teachers. In addition to their status, they will be provided with higher salaries. The proposal is now for review at the Departments. Be active and share your opinion on this matter! Send input directly to Julie Stavnes.

After lunch, Jone Trovik, Ingfrid Salvesen Haldorsen (K1) and Hans Kristian Flaatten (K1) demonstrated team-based learning (TBL). Participants on the Teaching Day were divided into groups for a TBL session where we used Socrative and at the same time learned multiple choice assignments. This was practical and very useful, and at least I learned a lot that I did not know before. A practical limitation on Socrative is that the free version can involve a maximum of 50 students. We are now investigating whether it is possible to purchase a common license for all teachers at K2 and K1 and where one can involve up to 150 students.

This year’s Teaching Award went to Bjørg Tilde Svanes Fevang (K2) and Anders Molven (K1). Congratulations to both – well deserved! In addition to honour and glory, the K2 Teaching Award comes with NOK 50.000.

A big thank you to the Vice Directors Jone Trovik and Ingfrid Salvesen Haldorsen (K1) for a well-executed teaching day. I certainly look forward to next time!

Since the New Year I have been involved, along with representatives of all the faculties of the university, in the drafting of an action plan for innovation for the university of Bergen. This work concluded on the 30th of April and will now be presented to the rektotrate for approval. It’s clear from the commitment to this project that innovation will now percolate into all facets of university life from teaching through research. While some might have grave reservations in this direction, believing we are abandoning the fundamental tenants of a university, it maybe that this is down to how exactly one defines “innovation”. Indeed, the committee that helped put this report together naturally had very different ideas as to what innovation was and how it should be implemented across each of the faculties. The Oslo manual 2018 manual on Guidelines for Collecting, Reporting and Using Data on Innovation defines Innovation as:

“a new or improved product or process (or combination thereof) that differs significantly from the unit’s previous products or processes and that has been made available to potential users (product) or brought into use by the unit (process)”.

In this context, innovation is not necessarily selling ones soul to corporate research, but implementing change for the betterment of society – which is in essence what most of us are trying to achieve within biomedical research. It will be interesting to see how this rolls out across the university, and the potential funding opportunities it will afford.

Finally, the biomedical network will have a meeting on “Drug Repurposing” to be held at bikuben, haukeland university hospital on June 7^thfrom 12-16:00.

In addition to being at Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, I worked one day a week at the Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). This is a public hospital located in downtown Boston and is considered by many to be one of the world’s best hospitals. Here, the world’s first ether anesthesia was performed, where a number of interested doctors observed the incident, see the legendary image (hanging in The Ether Dome; find the error!). I participated in several Grand Rounds in endocrinology in this room. The level of these was impressive. Assistant doctors gave presentations that were very detailed, and biochemistry and genetics were carefully dissected. There was plenty of time for discussions where seniors were very active. The first time I was there, it was full flap. The two presentations were about MODY and hyperinsulin, respectively. These are two disease groups that I have worked a lot with as a clinician and researcher for many years!

Otherwise, at MGH every week there is a presentation of a case for all doctors in education and other interested. These include supplementary information from several doctors involved in investigation and treatment. Own personnel write up what is said and the one who held the presentation finally publishes it in the New England Journal of Medicine. I was attending my boss, Professor Jose Florez MD PhD, his presentation of an unusual case of gestational diabetes. The presentation was just amazing. It was elegant and to the point, easily explained but still detailed when it comes to investigation and treatment. In addition, he included state-of-the-art at the research front in the field. The presentation was with a decent portion of humor so it didn’t get boring. The presentation was of great inspiration when it comes to, for example, teaching of students. Our teaching should be research-based. It must be updated. The students are particularly pleased with lecturers who are inspiring. It often doesn’t take much more than giving a little bit of oneself and with a smile occasionally. Then the students better follow the talk.

Have a great weekend!