About me
Professor of Social Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet and medical officer at the Center for epidemiology and Community Medicine, Stockholm County Council. Since 2014 I have a part time position as Secretary General of the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.
I am trained at the Karolinska Institute but have worked around ten years as professor of Social Medicine at Gothenburg University combined with a post at the public health services of the city and the County Council.
Research description
Main research areas are epidemiology and health services research, with focus on mental disorders, alcohol and drugs. In particular, I have worked with longitudinal studies, following persons over time to analyze risk factors and consequences of disorders and health problems.
Particular research areas have been related to alcohol, cannabis, schizophrenia and suicide. A research area of particular interest has been health effects of cannabis use, especially risk of schizophrenia and other psychoses.
Teaching portfolio
Throughout my carrier I have been teaching Social Medicine and Public Health in various programs and for different groups. During many years I was course leader for the teaching of Social Medicine/Community Medicine/Public Health (terminology varied over the years) in the curriculum for medical students.
In recent years I have been more involved of teaching at Public Health programmes on candidate and masters level. During a number of years I have led courses in Swedish social and legal systems for physicians trained in non EU countries. I have contributed to textbooks and chapters in teaching materials in Social Medicine and Public Health.
Education
- MD and board certified specialist in Social Medicine
- PhD in Social Medicine
Academic honours, awards and prizes
- Prix de la ville de Paris, for drug research, 1990
- Honorary professor, Hanoi Medical University, 2011
- CANs drug research prize 2012