Faculty of Medicine (NTNU)

Faculty of Medicine (NTNU)
Name	Faculty of Medicine
Established	1975
Parent	Norwegian University of Science and Technology
City	Trondheim
Country	Norway

Faculty of Medicine (NTNU). Established in 1975, it is a core component of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, dedicated to advancing medical education, research, and clinical practice. The faculty is integrally linked with St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, forming a unified university hospital that serves Central Norway. Its mission encompasses training future healthcare professionals, conducting groundbreaking biomedical research, and improving public health through innovation and collaboration.

History

The faculty's origins trace back to the founding of the University of Trondheim, which later merged into the modern Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Its establishment was part of a national strategy to decentralize medical education in Norway, complementing older institutions like the University of Oslo Faculty of Medicine. A pivotal development was its formal integration with St. Olavs Hospital, creating one of Norway's first combined university hospital complexes. This integration has been strengthened through national reforms and partnerships with organizations like the Norwegian Research Council and the World Health Organization.

Organization and structure

The faculty is organized into several departments, including the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, the Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, and the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science. It operates under the leadership of a dean and is governed by the university's central administration in collaboration with the St. Olavs Hospital management. Key collaborative frameworks include the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research. The structure supports interdisciplinary work across fields such as neuroscience, cancer research, and public health.

Research and innovation

Research is a cornerstone, with major focus areas including neuroscience at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, cardiovascular disease studies, and cancer research through the Cancer Clinic at St. Olavs Hospital. The faculty hosts several Centres of Excellence funded by the Norwegian Research Council, such as the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research. It actively participates in European Union framework programs and collaborates with institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Karolinska Institutet. Innovation is facilitated through partnerships with SINTEF and the Clinic for Laboratory Medicine.

Education and programs

The faculty offers a comprehensive six-year professional degree in medicine, alongside a Master of Science in Medical Technology and doctor of philosophy programs. Its medical program is known for early clinical clerkship integration at St. Olavs Hospital and problem-based learning methodologies. Postgraduate education includes specialization programs in fields like surgery and psychiatry, accredited by the Norwegian Medical Association. The faculty also contributes to courses in biomedicine and public health for students across the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Facilities and locations

The primary location is the Medisinsk teknisk forskningssenter (MTFS) on the Gløshaugen campus in Trondheim, which houses advanced laboratories and lecture halls. A significant portion of education and research is conducted at the St. Olavs Hospital campus, featuring the Clinical Research Facility and the National Competence Service for Functional MRI. These facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including positron emission tomography scanners and biobank infrastructures. The faculty also utilizes resources at the Øya campus and collaborates with Trondheim Municipality on public health initiatives.

Notable people and alumni

Distinguished faculty members have included May-Britt Moser and Edvard Moser, Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of grid cells. Former dean and cardiologist Torbjørn Moum has contributed significantly to gastroenterology research. Notable alumni encompass leaders in Norwegian medicine, such as Birgitte Espe, former director of St. Olavs Hospital, and Jens Petter Berg, a prominent figure in laboratory medicine. Many graduates hold key positions in the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Helse Midt-Norge, and international academia.

Category:Norwegian University of Science and Technology Category:Medical schools in Norway Category:Education in Trondheim Category:1975 establishments in Norway