When Charlotte Ringsted takes up the position of vice-dean at Aarhus University in January, the university will be appointing a woman with plenty of experience. The 60-year-old professor has 21 years of experience in medical education and has been a pioneer in many areas of the field. She takes over the position after former Vice-Dean Berit Eika, who took up the position of vice-dean for education at Aarhus University in June.

Charlotte Ringsted originally graduated from Odense University as a medical doctor in 1978, but in 1993 she changed track, and has since then built a career in medical pedagogics both as a researcher and leader. Since the beginning of 2013 she has been leader of one of the most recognised and largest centres for research in education, The Wilson Centre for Research in Health Professions Education at the University of Toronto. Now she is bound for Aarhus University where she will work on developing the health science programmes at the university.

"The challenge facing education is that the world we educate students for changes before they are finished. The students must therefore have some competences that they can relate to and use to impact on a changeable future. We must therefore always be visionary and look at how we develop our programmes so the students are as ready as they can be,” says Charlotte Ringsted and continues:

"I am really looking forward to getting to know Aarhus University and finding out how I can best contribute to the work of doing that."

She chose Aarhus University because she could sense high ambitions and a desire to be visionary here.

An experienced education captain

Charlotte Ringsted has a long-standing research career in Denmark and abroad combined with extensive experience in the management of healthcare education programmes. In addition to a Master in Health Professions Education from Maastricht University, as well as a PhD from the same university, she has also worked closely with healthcare institutions, healthcare education and many professions within health science education through her different jobs as e.g. leader of the Centre for Clinical Education at the University of Copenhagen.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Allan Flyvbjerg looks forward to Charlotte Ringsted joining his team:

"We are really pleased to be able to attract someone with Charlotte Ringsted’s background to our faculty. In general we have a very high level of quality in our health science degree programmes, but they must always be adapted to society in general and made better. In addition, we want an even higher degree of internationalisation in our degree programmes and this is where Charlotte's international network and experience is really important."

Allan Flyvbjerg also refers to the fact that there is currently an increasing focus on the quality and relevance of university programmes, as well as requirements from the ministry that the students must complete their studies more quickly.

"I have no doubt that Charlotte Ringsted is the right person to guide us safely through these many challenges," says Allan Flyvbjerg.

Facts about Charlotte Ringsted

• Director of The Wilson Centre, University Health Network (2013-2014)
• Professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesia (2013-2014)
• Honorary Professor at Maastricht University (2013)
• Professor of Medical Pedagogy, University of Copenhagen (2007-2013)
• Director of the Centre for Clinical Education (CEKU), University of Copenhagen (2004-2013)
• Honorary Associate Professor at Maastricht University (2001-2013)
• Undergraduate and postgraduate Associate Professor at University of Copenhagen (2004-2007)
• PhD from Maastricht University (2004)
• Director of the H:S Postgraduate Medical Department, Copenhagen Hospital Corporation (1997-2004)
• Master of Health Professions Education from Maastricht University (1997)
• Hospital coordinator of Medical Education, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet (1993-1997)
• Medical specialist in Anaesthesiology (1991)
• Graduated as medical doctor (MD) from Odense University (now the University of Southern Denmark) (1978)

See a list of Charlotte Ringsted’s publications 

Further information

Dean Allan Flyvbjerg
Aarhus University, Health
Mobile: +45 5177 9548
dean.health@au.dk