Anders Sondén and Anna Pettersson awarded KI´s Pedagogical Prize 2025

The prize is awarded annually to individual teachers, teaching teams or administrative staff who have made significant educational contributions, including educational development or renewal work within KI's programs at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels. 

The nomination emphasizes that Anders Sondén at Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset is a highly driven educational leader, teacher, and researcher who has worked to improve KI's education programs for many years, with a particular focus on medical education. 

By using research methodology, he seeks evidence-based answers to educational questions. In clinical education, he has introduced and supported several innovative educational projects, both at the course level and across program boundaries at KI. 

Anders has an inclusive and empathetic approach towards both colleagues and students, which is reflected in his latest research project aimed at creating more inclusive learning environments for students with disabilities and supporting junior doctors in their supervisory roles. 

His work is characterized by a strong commitment to student learning, creativity, and the search for educational evidence, which has contributed to strengthening the quality and relevance of medical education in society.

What does this prize mean to you, Anders Sondén? 
"It means a lot to me. It is a great honor and an incentive to continue working on developing teaching, supervision, and educational leadership."

What occupies you right now?
"I have recently gathered researchers in medical education into a new research group for Clinical Education at KI-SÖS, with the ambition to strengthen and broaden medical educational research. We have many good innovations in our education programs, but have too rarely researched these. The group is now finally launched, several exciting projects are underway, and we are working to find sustainable working methods. The intention is to be an active part of the research network in medical education at KI. 
As the person responsible for undergraduate education, I am also working to improve the learning environments at Södersjukhuset. We have inaugurated two new rooms for flexible active learning, but much work remains."

The nomination of Anna Pettersson at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society highlights how she has made significant contributions to developing teaching at Karolinska Institutet with her pedagogical leadership. She earned her PhD in 2005, obtained a master's degree in medical education in 2013, and was admitted to KI's Educational Academy in 2016. 

Since 2018, she has been the program director for the physiotherapy program and has introduced innovative methods such as portfolios for reflective practice and developed a new curriculum. Her work has made an impact both nationally and internationally. 

Anna Pettersson has also been instrumental in the development of interprofessional master's programs and has supported the use of digital tools during the pandemic. She is part of the MINT research group at LIME and has worked on projects involving 3D visualization of anatomy and global health competencies. 

Anna Pettersson has inspired both students and colleagues through her commitment and ability to integrate new teaching methods and perspectives into education.

What does this prize mean to you, Anna Pettersson? 
"It is a huge honor to be awarded the prize and feels like a nice recognition for my long-term involvement in educational issues that I think need to be taken up, discussed and made visible at undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels."

What occupies you right now?
"I now look forward to formulating a research plan for future educational research related to professional development and learning, compiling the application for an associate professorship and revising the textbook Learning and Developing in one's Profession."