The professional groups working in a hospital must have a scientific basis to the development of skills and expertise so that they can offer patients the best possible individualized treatment. As the health service develops, there is increased need for interdisciplinary research to be undertaken by scientists with varied professional backgrounds and academic skills.

The research competencies of all professional groups need to be used and strengthened so that issues of importance to patients can be investigated from different angles and with different methods. We thus need to employ people with diverse professional backgrounds, such as PhD students, postdocs, assistant professors, associate professors, and professors, in joint positions that combine research with relevant clinical positions.

It is desirable that the researchers in such combined positions, regardless of their professional background, act as mediators of links between clinical practice and research. Their dual role is beneficial for strengthening the dissemination of research results and experiences between research and clinical practice. One of the important tasks of a researcher who also has a clinical position is to act as a role model and to provide inspiration to future clinicians and researchers.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The research competencies of all professional groups should be used and strengthened.

PERFORMANCE GOALS

• By 2017: The departments’ research strategies will reflect the research plans for all academic disciplines in the department.
• By 2017: Researchers with diverse academic backgrounds are represented in all research-related advisory groups and committees at OUH.
• By 2018: Career paths are developed for researchers with a non-medical background. There should also be opportunities for a clinical career path for researchers without a medical background.
• By 2019: All departments should have research projects that have been initiated by researchers with a non-medical background.
• By 2021: A further three professors will be employed, as well as five further honorary adjunct professors with a non-medical background.
• Appointment of members to the regional and national research committees and advisory groups will reflect the breadth of professional backgrounds of health researchers at OUH.

Status

The number of researchers with a non-medical background has been increasing at OUH and KI in recent years. These are graduates with backgrounds in social sciences, health sciences, and life sciences. In 2015, there were thus six professors at OUH and KI with a non-medical background.

Furthermore, several new graduate programmes have been created at SDU in recent years, including midwifery science, occupational therapy, clinical nursing, physiotherapy, and pharmacy. These programmes, together with other relevant graduate programs, have helped to strengthen the framework for health research.

Strategies have been developed for nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and midwifery science at OUH, including a description of the goals regarding research Development.