Karl Swedberg, a cardiologist at the Sahlgrenska Academy, has been awarded a professorship at Imperial College, London. Formerly a visiting professor there, he will as from this autumn be in London part-time.
”How come you were awarded this position?”
”I think it’s because I’ve a large international network, long experience of running clinical studies and an extensive publications list with many citations. Some time ago they wanted me to help with a collaboration project with the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and I became a visiting professor for a period. Now they wanted to raise my earlier post to part-time in the faculty.”
“You’re not titled ‘senior professor’ there like at Sahlgrenska, are you?”
“No, they don’t have age limits like in Swedish universities where you can’t keep your post after 67. In London there’s been no talk of my age at all. It seems rather the other way round, it’s a plus in this connection.”
Karl Swedberg is satisfied with his terms of employment. He is to fly to London once a month.
“I leave in the morning, I’m at the Royal Brompton Hospital before nine and can take a plane home in the evening. You can get through a lot during a well-planned day. It’s pleasant work on various research projects. I’ve no responsibility for staff, budget or teaching. Sometimes I do a presentation on some topic. But it’s relaxed and great fun.”
”What does it mean to the Sahlgrenska Academy that you’ve been awarded this post in London?”
”I hope it’s considered an additional qualification here too, and it gives me opportunities to bring together people at the Academy with knowledgeable colleagues in London. I’ve established this kind of cooperation already and I can see it developing. This is very nice.”
