A record number of doctorates at Diakonhjemmet hospital

In 2024, Diakonhjemmet hospital has set a new record with 14 doctoral degrees in one year. This marks an important milestone in the work for better treatment and health services. It is the result of a long-term commitment to research and innovation for the benefit of patients. Seven of the doctorates come from the REMEDY centre. 

In the picture: Clinic manager Kjetil Bergsmark and research manager Espen A. Haavardsholm say that the hospital has a strategy of carrying out research close to patients that improves clinical practice.

This year's 14 doctoral degrees cover a wide range of topics with significance for patient care at the hospital. No less than seven of them relate to rheumatic diseases.

Leader in research outside the university hospitals

Diakonhjemmet hospital has for many years had the highest research activity among Norwegian hospitals outside the university hospitals.

Research manager Espen A. Haavardsholm explains that research is an integral part of the clinic:

- We have a strategy to carry out research close to patients that improves clinical practice. The fact that the research is integrated into ordinary patient care helps that the patients quickly benefit from the methods that the research shows work best. High research activity is good news for them, he says.

He also emphasizes that the doctorates not only provide concrete results, but also train the researchers of the future.

Research for better treatment

REMEDY contributes significantly to medical development and patient care. The aim is to make treatment more accurate and to strengthen the healthcare system to meet the challenges of the future.

Leader in rheumatic diseases

The clinic for rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research is a leader both nationally and internationally in treatment and research into rheumatic diseases. The clinic also contributes to the development of guidelines for better patient treatment. The REMEDY research center is an important part of this environment.

With the rheumatology community's long research history, it is not surprising that seven of this year's 14 doctorates from Diakonhjemmet hospital come from this clinic.

- We have a seamless collaboration between research and clinic, says Kjetil Bergsmark, head of the Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research. He emphasizes that precisely this makes it possible to give patients quick access to innovative treatment.

Seven doctorates from REMEDY

The research at Diakonhjemmet hospital is therefore closely linked to practice.

Here is a brief presentation of REMEDY's seven PhDs from 2024. Click on the links to read a larger issue about each of them.

Clinic for rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research/REMEDY

• Master in Sports Science, Joachim Sagen, at REMEDY and Unit for healthcare research and innovation, Clinic for rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: User participation results in better healthcare services.
  • Patients who actively participate in their own treatment achieve better results.

• physical therapist, Elizabeth Mulrooney, at REMEDY and Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: Pain in hand osteoarthritis: The importance of biopsychosocial factors.
  • Biopsychosocial factors intensify the pain experience in hand osteoarthritis.

• physical therapist, Kristine Røren Nordén, at REMEDY and Unit for healthcare research and innovation, Clinic for rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: High-intensity training provides great health benefits for patients with joint diseases.
  • High-intensity training is safe and provides major health benefits for patients with rheumatic diseases.

• Doctor in specialization, Ingrid Egeland Christensen, at REMEDY and Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: Increased risk of serious infections in inflammatory joint diseases.
  • Patients on biological medicines have a higher risk of serious infections.

• Doctor in specialization, Ingrid Jyssum, at REMEDY and Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: Treatment of patients with immunological inflammatory diseases.
  • The immune system affects the effectiveness of biological medicines and COVID-19 vaccines.

• Doctor in specialization,Marthe Kirkesæther Brun, at REMEDY and Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: Personalized treatment.
  • Doses of infliximab should be adjusted based on blood concentration to avoid flare-ups.

• Doctor in specialization, Marthe Gløersen, at REMEDY and Clinic for Rheumatology, outpatient clinic and research: Pain and pain sensitization in people with hand osteoarthritis.
  • Body mass index and pain sensitization are related to pain in hand osteoarthritis.