She will be responsible for developing collaboration with the hospital's many stakeholders on research, education, and innovation, which is intended to benefit both individual patients and the entire healthcare system.
By hiring its first director of research, Rigshospitalet has taken an important strategic step in its vision to contribute to the development of a balanced future healthcare system. Among a broad and competitive field of applicants, the choice fell on professor Malene Fischer, who comes from within the ranks from her position as chief physician in the Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine.
Her appointment marks a new era in how research, education, and innovation are integrated into the hospital's strategic development. Malene Fischer, who brings extensive experience from both national and international health institutions, will be a key player in strengthening collaboration across the healthcare sector and ensuring that Rigshospitalet is well-prepared for future challenges, highlights Rigshospitalet’s director, Rasmus Møgelvang.
"The healthcare system faces great challenges, but we also have enormous potential, which we can unlock together by strengthening and developing clinically relevant research, education, and innovation. Malene impressed the hiring committee, and I am confident that she is the right person to set the framework and direction for this process in close collaboration with our colleagues across the country and in the Nordic region," says Rasmus Møgelvang.
Solid experience as a researcher and leader
Malene Fischer comes with solid experience as an engaged researcher, leader, and health policy actor. She is a specialist in Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine and has dedicated much of her research to the development and implementation of new diagnostic technologies, particularly for cancer patients. Through her various roles in the Danish Medical Association, she also has significant knowledge of how to navigate the health policy field.
As a leader, she has been involved in the strategic development in her current department at Rigshospitalet and with the establishment of the UK PET Core Lab at King's College London, where she previously worked. Here, she gained experience in maintaining high professional standards and a learning culture in a pressured healthcare system.
Most recently, she has shown her commitment to developing the public healthcare system across disciplines and competencies through her role as academic leader at the Technical University Hospital (TUH), a partnership between the Capital Region of Denmark and DTU, where Rigshospitalet plays an important role.
Collaboration as a driving force
For Malene Fischer, the goal is to establish a common governance structure that promotes knowledge sharing, empowerment of employees, and collaboration across the hospital and the healthcare system in its entirety.
"I am very excited to make my mark in a newly established position, where I will collaborate with many professional groups and institutions, which has been a driving force for me throughout my career. At Rigshospitalet, we must benefit both the individual patient and the entire healthcare system, and therefore it makes perfect sense to focus on research, education, and innovation, which in my view should all be an integrated part of the staff's daily operations and management," says Malene Fischer.
In her position, she will also contribute to attracting research and development funds, making it possible to drive the hospital's ambitions to develop new, clinically relevant solutions in everything from artificial intelligence and data sharing to home treatment and optimized patient pathways.
She will also play a significant role in promoting Rigshospitalet’s priorities both nationally and internationally, including ensuring that Rigshospitalet continues to contribute actively to the Danish Life Science environment, and in developing the Nordic hospital collaboration announced in spring 2024.
Malene Fischer begins her new position on August 1, 2024.