Are hybrid courses the answer to new requirements in health care? Dean Agneta Holmäng discussed this issue with Ann-Marie Wennberg, director of Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Stefan Bengtsson, president and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology, in an op-ed article in Dagens Medicin(Today’s Medicine), at a packed seminar in Almedalen and in a follow-up article in Dagens Medicin.
Artificial intelligence, digitization, robotic surgery… Billions are being invested in building the world’s most modern hospital. The question is who will work with the technology in and for health care of the future?
“We see a growing need for technology-savvy medical personnel. And developments are moving quickly,” says Ann-Marie Wennberg.
Therefore, Sahlgrenska Academy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland and Chalmers University of Technology have appointed a joint team to collaborate on possible solutions.
“Perhaps a common foundation year program for Chalmers and Sahlgrenska Academy to increase understanding among different fields?” Agneta Holmäng asks. “It’s about creating the world’s best health care, about keeping abreast of global developments, but also about elevating the status of health sciences programs, especially if they require continuing professional training.”
The op-ed article states that we need to attract students who want to work at global tech companies like Google and Spotify. The needs of the future are not going to be solved with yesterday’s educational programs. Students are interested in digitization and driving development, she maintains.
The biggest challenge is in undergraduate studies, which is strictly regulated by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ), the programs already are extensive, and funding is tightly controlled.
“But we can start with what is simple. A research school doesn’t require changing rules,” says Stefan Bengtsson.
Other ideas that have been discussed are elective specialist medical training focusing partly on technology and hybrid programs for nurses and engineers.
The question and answer period at the end of the seminar showed significant interest in the issue from students, medical personnel, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) and others and in our collaboration to meet these challenges. But also from Dagens Medicin, which was in attendance to do a follow-up.
“These are exciting but tough questions that we feel are important to address,” says Agneta Holmäng. “It’s not enough to just educate more people. We need to approach education in new ways and from different angles to make the most of digitization. There’s also a need to become more attractive and appeal to creative students.”
Other participants in the seminar were Anders Carlberg, head of research, development and education for Region Västra Götaland, and Lotta Gummeson, CEO of Sahlgrenska Science Park. In the video: Emma Holmström, surgical nurse and robotic assistant at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Justin Schneider, researcher at MedTech West, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg. The seminar was organized by the University of Gothenburg in conjunction with Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
Video and summary of the July 4, 2018 seminar
TEXT: ANNA von PORAT
PHOTO: Dagens Medicin
