Helena Nordenstedt on the synergies of a dual role with clinical work and research
Helena Nordenstedt is a Senior lecturer and associate professor in global health at GPH and expert coordinator at the Centre for Health Crises. She combines her research with clinical work in internal medicine at Danderyds sjukhus. Her projects range from infectious disease outbreaks to non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, focusing on low-income settings. We asked Helena to share the advantages and challenges of her dual role.
Can you describe what a combined position means and how it differs from a traditional academic or healthcare position?
A combined position allows me to work both in research and clinically with patients. It differs from traditional academic or healthcare roles by enabling me to bridge these two areas instead of focusing exclusively on one.
What are the main advantages of combining clinical work with research?
Seeing patients and being embedded in the Swedish healthcare system gives me a better understanding of how the system works and evolves. It also provides a strong foundation for future research ideas — what are the real problems facing both our patients and our system? I also believe that academia and clinical work complement each other well. Working with patients offers short-term job satisfaction, while academic work often brings long-term satisfaction, once you see the results of years of effort finally come to fruition.
What challenges do you face when balancing your clinical and academic responsibilities?
Working in healthcare is very different from working in academia. In healthcare, there is seldom time to sit and reflect; tasks usually need to be solved immediately or at least within the same day, and long-term deadlines are rare. When you leave the hospital, you also leave your responsibility behind, which is a very nice feeling.
In academia, however, deadlines are frequent, making it difficult to completely switch off during evenings or weekends. When short academic deadlines coincide with clinical duties, it can be challenging to manage both responsibilities simultaneously.
What does a typical working week look like for you as you juggle between clinical and research?
I currently work three days every other week clinically, usually as a senior physician (“Ledningsläkare”) in the medical emergency room, managing the work of up to 15 junior doctors. Some weeks, I work as a consultant on one of our wards, admitting, diagnosing, treating, and discharging patients. At KI, my days are divided between research, supervising students, and teaching.
What advice would you give to junior doctors and researchers considering a combined employment?
It is possibly the best way to formalize what many physician-researchers already try to do — combine clinical and academic work. However, it takes considerable time to organize, and you need support from the heads of both your clinical and academic departments. They must agree on the value of such a position for it to succeed, but it is definitely worth the efforts to get there! My first advice would be to talk to others who already have a combined position, to learn more about the set-up.