Category Archives: Vestlandslegen

Colleagues Vestlandslegen – Jostein Førsvoll

Hello dear colleagues at K2,

I am Jostein Andersen Førsvoll and work at Stavanger University Hospital. Here, I serve as a senior consultant at the Department of Pediatrics with expertise in pediatric endocrinology.

On February 1st, I will assume the position of associate professor and academic coordinator for the 5th year at Vestlandslegen.

Foto:./ill: Privat

I have worked as a university lecturer for many years and have been involved in teaching medical students who have had decentralized pediatric practice in Stavanger. I enjoy teaching and find this work rewarding. I see Vestlandslegen as a natural continuation of the collaboration between our hospital and the University of Bergen. I want to contribute to creating a positive learning environment for students and educators in the 5th year, and I look forward to the start this fall.

In the long run, I hope that this position will also provide opportunities for research, and that I can contribute to projects that foster academic and research collaboration among the pediatric departments in the West of Norway.

Vestlandslegen Colleagues – Tore Grimstad

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science and project Vestlandslegen,

My name is Tore Grimstad, and I am an internist and gastroenterologist, as well as an Associate Professor II affiliated with K2, based in Stavanger.

Clinically, I work at the gastroenterology outpatient clinic. In addition to my clinical work, my research primarily focuses on inflammatory bowel disease, and I am involved in both clinical, basic research, and microbiome-related projects.

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Since spring 2018, I have been teaching medical students during placement practice from UiB MED8, and additionally, Vestlandslege students since the fall of 2023. I find it exciting and inspiring to teach students, the future doctors, especially contributing to clinically oriented and hopefully educational discussions with students in an activating environment. I believe that special visits with small groups of students provide an exciting and developing teaching arena, aiming to engage students and facilitate effective learning within a secure framework. This also places important demands on us as teachers as clinical role models.

I also find it rewarding to work together with others towards a common goal and to have the opportunity to follow and guide PhD candidates in the scientific process from project improvement to a completed thesis. I want to contribute to building a scientific environment and mentoring other researchers in a section that has always focused on patient care and conducted extensive and intensive clinical operations. I am delighted by the increasing scientific activity at the gastroenterology section in Stavanger.

Vestlandslegen is in its early stages; the start has been challenging but also exciting. We have a unique opportunity to further develop professional, teaching, and research competence in the coming years, which will benefit patients, students, and staff. I hope my commitment to UiB will allow me to contribute significantly in these areas.

We truly have exciting years ahead!

Vestlandslegen Colleagues – Målfrid Holmaas Bjørgaas

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

Quick information about me:
Målfrid Holmaas Bjørgaas
Palliative Medicine
University Lecturer for Vestlandslegen, 5% position
Senior Consultant at the Palliative Center, Stavanger University Hospital

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I teach students in Vestlandslegen in palliative care during their 7th semester. Palliative care is grouped with oncology and hematology, and in November, we had the first batch of 8 students. I conducted a two-day palliative care seminar with lectures, discussions, group tasks, and reflection, emphasizing the interdisciplinary perspective essential in palliative care. Students had the opportunity to meet various professionals, including doctors, physiotherapists, and hospital chaplains. We also visited the Boganes Palliative Care Unit operated by the Stavanger municipality.

In November 2024, the second batch is expected with nearly 20 students. It will be exciting.

I have always enjoyed teaching, and I do it extensively in my role as a senior consultant, both within SUS and in associated municipalities. I find it very meaningful to share my experience as both a general practitioner and a palliative care physician with young doctors, and I hope to provide insights into how we can approach patients and their families as whole individuals. I also hope to convey the importance of refraining from unnecessary treatment in the final stages of life and emphasize that providing effective relief is valuable in itself, even if patients do not recover.

Vestlandslegen Colleagues – Tesfaye Madebo

Hello dear colleagues at K2,

I am Tesfaye Madebo, working as a specialist in pulmonary and internal medicine. I am an attending physician at the Lung Department at SUS and hold a concurrent position as an associate professor at K2 (Vestlandslegen, UIB).
In my clinical practice, I mainly focus on lung cancer (diagnosis and treatment) and various other pulmonary diseases, both in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as during on-call shifts. We have ongoing collaborative projects with colleagues from UiB in the field of lung cancer (shared decision-making, OL Margrethe), and within the ATLAS4LAR group (Professor Lars Thore), we are conducting clinical studies on lung diseases. As part of the national lung cancer network, we collaborate with other major hospitals in Norway, such as OUS (DART, SOLUCOM, MIMILUC, and LUNGEVAC studies) and St. Olavs Hospital (TRIPLEX and THORA II), mainly in clinical phase II and III drug trials. Despite impressive results in recent years with new treatment modalities like immunotherapy and biological treatment for lung cancer, many patients still experience progression or relapse. It is crucial to increase our understanding of the underlying biology influencing responses and resistance. Numerous exciting studies are underway in Norway, with SUS actively participating, aiming to identify predictive and prognostic markers for the development of better treatment options over time.

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In addition to my clinical work and research, I am actively involved in teaching students in pulmonary medicine, including medical students, junior doctors, and oncology nurses. I also serve as a co-supervisor for a Ph.D. student. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the development of the medical program at SUS as part of Vestlandslegen/UiB. It not only provides an exciting experience but also makes a significant contribution to the local SUS environment. It is a great privilege for me to integrate clinical practice, research, and teaching in my profession (now under UiB).

What do i enjoy working on at K2?
I officially start working with medical students from May 2023, which is a relatively short time into my position as an associate professor. I enjoy working at Vestlandslegen/K2 because, through clinical work, research, and teaching as part of a large environment, I have significant opportunities for professional development. I continuously gain new insights through collaboration with colleagues, research partners across specialties, and engaged students. This dynamic interaction not only energizes me but also provides goals to strive for. Collaborating across disciplines is particularly enriching, offering me the opportunity to explore different perspectives.
Additionally, the work gives me a chance to meet colleagues at various stages of their careers, both across disciplines and institutions. This diverse interaction contributes to a broader understanding of my field. Working at Vestlandslegen/K2 also provides access to courses in pedagogy and mentoring, enriching not only my professional competence but also positively impacting my personal development. Through teaching, I encounter skilled and curious students, and it is a pleasure to contribute to their knowledge in the field of pulmonary and internal medicine. Guiding and teaching medical students and junior doctors brings me great satisfaction. It is inspiring to observe the growth and development of my colleagues’ professional and clinical competence. The working environment is pleasant, and my colleagues, both in scientific and administrative positions, are competent, helpful, and engaged. This creates a positive expectation and enthusiasm for each working day.

Tesfaye Madebo
Attending Physician at SUS
Associate Professor at UiB

 

Colleagues at Vestlandslegen – Kjetil Isaksen

Dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Kjetil Isaksen, and I have recently joined as an associate professor at K2, based at Stavanger University Hospital. I work clinically as an invasive cardiologist and specialize in internal medicine, digestive diseases, and heart conditions.

In my role as a university employee, I am involved in teaching University of Bergen (UiB) students from both the “old curriculum” and the newly initiated cohort associated with Vestlandslegen. My focus is on teaching heart diseases.

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It has been particularly exciting to be part of the planning and now the implementation of the teaching for the first students at Vestlandslegen. I am confident that, in collaboration with UiB central, we will create a well-structured program for future doctors here at SUS.

Meeting talented and eager-to-learn students is inspiring, and my goal is to make a small contribution to their professional development and maturation into the role of physicians.

Kjetil Isaksen
Associate Professor
Specialist in Internal Medicine

Colleagues at Vestlandslegen – Katrine Brække Norheim

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Katrine Brække Norheim. I am the department head at the Rheumatology Department at Stavanger University Hospital.

I am a specialist in internal medicine and rheumatology. I am employed as a 1st associate professor at K2, with my workplace in Stavanger.

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I provide instruction to medical students from UiB MED8 and students in the Vestlandslegen program in rheumatology. It is exciting and educational to be involved in student teaching, and I hope to contribute to making students curious and confident when interacting with patients. I am particularly focused on helping students develop a keen clinical sense and approach patients with respect and dignity. Through my involvement at UiB, I aim to contribute to a medical education that produces competent doctors who prioritize the well-being of patients, colleagues, and themselves.

Vestlandslegen colleagues – Svein Joar Auglænd Johnsen

Hello dear colleagues at Clinical Science,

My name is Svein Joar Auglænd Johnsen, and I specialize in internal medicine and rheumatology. Currently, I work at Department K2 as the coordinator for medical disciplines in Vestlandslegen, with my workplace located in Stavanger.

In my current role as the coordinator for medical disciplines in Vestlandslegen, I collaborate closely with the coordinator for surgical disciplines and the instructors within specific sub-specialties. Together, we have developed a proposal for a new study program for the 4th to 6th years, aiming to integrate medical and surgical disciplines as effectively as possible. This involves teaching both gastroenterology and gastro-surgery in the same week, along with interdisciplinary instruction on specific topics such as surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

This fall, we conducted an introductory week and teaching program for a pilot group of students for the first time. This was based on existing instruction at UiB and in collaboration with responsible instructors in various fields. Now, we are facing the evaluation and improvement of this program, while also preparing to welcome a larger group of students next fall.

What makes my position inspiring is the groundbreaking work in regional medical education. This concept is novel both in Norway and comparable neighboring countries. The collaboration between Stavanger University Hospital and UiB has the potential to increase the capacity for medical education in Norway. Working in a team with experienced professionals across disciplines towards this goal is inspiring. It is also an honor to be involved in the education of ambitious medical students, with the hope that they will become colleagues and successors over time.

My goal is to contribute to the University of Bergen, in collaboration with Vestlandslegen, educating competent doctors well-prepared for the challenges they will face as LIS-1. I hope that my dedication will result in the successful completion of students’ education and that they find a specialization they enjoy. Furthermore, I hope to be part of building a campus that delivers high-quality education, research, and innovation. Collaboration across disciplines will also lay the foundation for new and exciting projects. I have several projects of my own in the planning stage, and I hope they will start soon, while I look forward to developing into a professorially competent individual.