In memory of Göran Sterky (1930-2025)
Göran Sterky, a renowned paediatrician, professor at Karolinska Institutet, and founder of IHCAR (International Health Care Research), passed away in November 2025 at the age of 95.
Göran started IHCAR in 1983 together with administrator Bodil Hellstedt, with the aim that it should be not only a medical but a multi-/interdisciplinary unit. Only a few years later, IHCAR moved to Rektorsvillan at Tomteboda, where Göran, with a group of collaborators created the vibrant environment of IHCAR. The group expanded year by year and included researchers and students from a wide range of areas. Besides several medical disciplines, researchers and students from epidemiology, anthropology, economics, nursing, midwifery, sociology, political sciences, pharmacy and public and global health were recruited.
The most inspiring environment was created for many doctoral students and researchers. Göran was very clear that research should best be done interdisciplinary and in collaboration with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Funding came from Sida/SAREC and other sources. In 1987, the course Medicines and Society had participants from nine countries, eight Asian countries (India, Vietnam, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia) and three Swedish participants. The environment created by Göran Sterky and colleagues was something completely new to the students.
In 1995, when Göran was 65 years of age, he decided to retire, and a symposium was held at the house of Läkaresällskapet (Swedish Society of Medicine) to celebrate his achievements at KI and earlier. In connection with the event, a book called ‘Memories for the future’ was published, and a foundation ‘Göran Sterky foundation’ was created, which for many years gave opportunities for researchers from LMICs to spend a few months at KI.
Today Göran has many, many scientific grand- and grand-grand children who all knowingly or unknowingly have been inspired by the thoughts Göran had when IHCAR was created. For the future, we mainly have memories from the past in relation to Göran, but we will always cherish his memory as a truly inspirational researcher and leader. Thank you, Göran!
Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg,
Professor and scientific grandchild of Göran