NEWS A researcher who investigates the significance of gender, ethnicity and socio-economics on human health and a politician, a former cabinet minister and governor, who played an important role in the development of Umeå University and University Hospital of Umeå, have been named the 2014 honorary doctorates at the Faculty of Medicine.
Susan Phillips, professor of family medicine at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, is an authority on the work of diversity and equality in health and health care, as well as in scholarly work in Canada. She is also an internationally recognised researcher and has held several expert assignments related to gender issues in healthcare and medical education for the World Health Organization, but also for the UN and the World Bank.
Since 2011, Susan Phillips has been a visiting professor at Umeå Centre for Gender Studies (UCGS), a research centre at Umeå University where gender research from all faculties are brought together.
Susan Phillips has both ongoing and completed research projects in collaboration with researchers at the Faculty of Medicine. She has, among other things, organised a symposium on gender in medical education at a training conference in Vienna, together with researchers from family medicine, she has held seminars in Umeå, participated in research applications and provided active support for a large number of doctoral students in the faculty.
Börje Hörnlund was the chairman of the County Council of Västerbotten in the early 1970s, and was highly involved in the establishment of the Oncology Centre, which today is part of the Regional Cancer Centre North. The Oncology Centre and Regional Cancer Centre North have been instrumental in the development of cancer care in the region and for cancer research at Umeå University.
In the late 1970s, Börje Hörnlund was a strong driving force in the efforts to create a modern laboratory for selective angiographic X-ray examinations of the heart and the body's central blood vessels. He was also responsible for a major effort for establishing the thoracic surgery in Umeå. These efforts were key to cardiac care developments in the north of Sweden, as well as for cardiovascular research at Umeå University.
Börje Hörnlund was also influential in the establishment of an independent rheumatology clinic, which became a base for successful research in areas such as the Medical Biobank, where he also had an important role in finding a good institutional solution. Furthermore, he was active in the design of a modern geriatric clinic that became a foundation for geriatric research, as well as the decision to erect a new building for the School of Dentistry.
For more information about Susan Phillips, please contact Katarina Hamberg, professor and senior physician at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University:Phone: +46 90 785 35 34
E-mail: katarina.hamberg@umu.se
For more information about Börje Hörnlund, please contact Göran Hallmans, senior professor at the Department of Biobank research, Umeå University:Phone: +46 90 785 15 37
E-mail: goran.hallmans@umu.se
The insignia of the two honorary doctorates will be presented at the University's annual celebration, which this year takes place on Saturday, the 18th of October.
Editor: Mattias Grundström Mitz