Susanna Wallerstedt is already a senior consultant in clinical pharmacology and has worked at the HTA Center at Sahlgrenska University Hospital since 2018. She has also been a professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of Gothenburg since 2016. Her expertise in clinical pharmacology and her professorship in pharmacotherapy, where evidence assessment and the rational use of medicines are key areas, have laid the foundation for her new role.
“My new role gives me a platform to help develop the HTA Center academically. This aligns with the hospital’s goal of being a leading university hospital. We will also work to ensure that we remain at the forefront, both in Sweden and internationally, in terms of methods and decision support for healthcare. It would also be exciting if HTA could eventually become an academic discipline in its own right at the university,” she says.
The HTA professorship is a three-part appointment in which clinical practice, research, and education carry equal weight, with a particular focus on developing the HTA Center and advancing evidence-based care. The position is jointly funded by Sahlgrenska University Hospital and the University of Gothenburg.
Strengthening expertise and collaboration
“Evidence-based medicine is essential for translating new knowledge into care that delivers real benefits for patients. With this new professorship, we are strengthening our expertise in the field and creating the conditions for high-quality research outcomes and education in close collaboration with Sahlgrenska University Hospital,” says Jenny Nyström, professor and dean of Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg.
“There is a great need for education in this field so that future physicians, other healthcare professionals, and decision-makers have better tools to assess new knowledge and use healthcare resources wisely,” says Jan Borén, professor and head of the Institute of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. He continues:
“The professorship is also an excellent example of the close and valuable collaboration between Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. It strengthens the connection between research, education, and healthcare and helps ensure that new methods are introduced in a thoughtful, equitable, and knowledge-based manner.”
Supporting priorities and development
Caterina Finizia, Director of Research, Development, Education and Innovation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital:
“The need for expertise in HTA and evidence-based medicine is growing throughout the healthcare system. The professorship will play a central role in educating the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals, as well as developing the methodological expertise needed for sound priority-setting in healthcare,” she says.
Boubou Hallberg, CEO of Sahlgrenska University Hospital:
“Healthcare development should be driven by knowledge and data. Sahlgrenska University Hospital aims to become one of Europe’s leading university hospitals. One milestone on that journey is for all staff to practice evidence-based healthcare. Health data should inform management and governance, and care improves for patients when quality guides how we manage healthcare,” he says.
