On 1 May 2026, 47-year-old Christian Fynbo Christiansen will take over as head of the Department of Clinical Medicine. He comes from a position as Professor of Renal Epidemiology at the same department and senior consultant at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital.

With this appointment, the Department of Clinical Medicine gains a leader with a deep understanding of the close interplay between university research and the needs of the healthcare system.

In recent years, Christian Fynbo Christiansen has headed CONNECT, the Region of Central Denmark's data support centre, where he has worked to establish networks and strengthen the research infrastructure through collaboration between researchers in the region and at Aarhus University.

"Christian is a highly competent professor and research leader with extensive experience in facilitating collaboration, including across organisations. Through his many years as a researcher and his work with CONNECT and research support, Christian has gained a unique insight into how we can create even stronger frameworks for clinical research to the benefit of researchers, patients and society. I very much look forward to welcoming Christian in the new year," says Anne-Mette Hvas, Dean of Health.

Creating change for the benefit of patients and citizens

Christian Fynbo Christiansen himself sees the position as a unique opportunity to help set a direction and create even stronger frameworks for clinical research and education.

"Society faces a number of challenges, and the healthcare system is changing. At the same time, new technologies open up entirely new possibilities. As a department and university, we must contribute solid knowledge and help bring new technologies into play in ways that create real change for patients and citizens – both through our clinical research and through research-based education," says Christian Fynbo Christiansen.

He emphasises that the department must strengthen and maintain its position as the country's leading department of clinical medicine. And it must continue to be an attractive partner for collaboration.

"We must create an environment where talent can flourish, staff thrive, and where we are ambitious on behalf of our community," he says.

Unique collaboration between hospital and university

The Department of Clinical Medicine is characterised by close and integrated collaboration with the region's hospitals. Not least Aarhus University Hospital, which also houses the department's administration, where Christian Fynbo Christiansen will have his new office.

This close collaboration means that many staff members are employed at both university and hospital, and that clinical research takes place in direct connection with patient care.

With Christian Fynbo Christiansen, the department gains a leader who knows this interplay inside out. As professor and head of CONNECT, he has worked closely with researchers, clinicians and decision-makers across the region for a number of years.

"I look forward to collaborating with staff and leaders at the department and faculty, and to further developing the good collaboration with AUH, the regional hospitals and other actors in the healthcare sector," says Christian Fynbo Christiansen.

Looking forward to the collaboration

The Department of Clinical Medicine is responsible for the master's programme in medicine and accounts for a large part of the clinical research conducted at the hospitals in the Central Denmark Region.

This makes collaboration with Aarhus University Hospital and the regional hospitals a cornerstone of the department's work.

Aarhus University Hospital also looks forward to collaborating with the new head of department.

"There is a strong, long-standing tradition of close and constructive collaboration between Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, and I am convinced that Christian will both continue and strengthen this tradition. As head of department, he will play a central role in developing and strengthening clinical research in collaboration with all the region's hospitals," says Michael Braüner Schmidt, Medical Director at Aarhus University Hospital.

Get to know the Department of Clinical Medicine's future head better when Inside Health publishes a portrait of him in the new year.