Tobias Alfvén
Professor/specialist physician
Senior researcher and clincial professor in Global Child Health at the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet and a paediatrician at Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital in Stockhol
About me
I am a medical doctor, with a PhD in Epidemiology and a BSc in Business Administration and Political Science. For the last 20 years I have combined research, teaching, clinical medicine in paediatrics and work for the United Nations both in the field and at headquarter. Among many responsibilities when working for UNAIDS in Geneva I was representing the organization in the UN expert group on the Millennium Development Goals. I have worked and conducted research in Asia, Africa and Europe, and I am currently involved in projects in Uganda, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Viet Nam and Sweden.
At the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet I am team leader of the Global Child Health and Sustainable Development Goals team, within the Health Systems and Policy group. At Sachs’ children and youth hospital I am leading the research network in global health and infectious diseases. I am co-chairing the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Health (CESH), a joint collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Makerere University. Further I am the Chair of the Swedish Society of Medicine and the chair of Agenda for health and prosperity.
Research description
My research aims to reduce child mortality and morbidity with research projects mostly in low-income-countries, such as Uganda, Ethiopia and Viet Nam, but also in Sweden. I am involved in projects around prevention, new diagnostics and treatment of pneumonia, diagnostics of meningitis and improved neonatal survival. I am also involved in projects related to inter-disciplinary work around the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change effects on child health and wellbeing, and how to reach children without access to the formal health care system.
Teaching portfolio
I teach global health and global child health at all different levels at Karolinska Institutet, and I am also involved in teaching related to neglected infectious diseases and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Master programme in Global Health:
- Mother and child health in a global perspective (3GB013)
Education
- Clinical Professor in Global Child Health 2022
- Licensed pediatrician, Sach´s Children & Youth Hospital 2017
- Licensed physician, Karolinska Hospital 2003
- PostDoc in Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, 2003-04
- PhD in Medical Science, Karolinska Institutet, 2002
- Bachelor in business, including Business Economics, National Economics and Political Science, Stockholm and Uppsala University 2001