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PhD Programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences

Upcoming PhD Defences

Cand.med. Kristian Als Nielsen

Title: "Open versus Robotic-Assisted Ventral Hernia Repair: Clinical and Economic Perspectives"

Date and time: 21-04-2026 at 14:00

Venue: The Auditorium, Lærings- og forskningshuset, Hospital Sønderjylland, Kresten Philipsens Vej 15F, 6200 Aabenraa

Committee of Examiners:

Adjunct Professor Jaana Vironen, Abdominal Center, Helsinki University Hospital

Associate professor Nadia Henriksen, Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg Hospital

Professor Torben Knudsen, IRS, Esbjerg og Grindsted Hospital, SDU (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Michael Festersen Nielsen, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.scient. Line Dragsbæk

Title: "Associations between combinations of MRI findings in the Lumbar Spine and Low Back Pain "

Date and time: 24-04-2026 at 13:00

Venue: DIAS auditorium, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M

Committee of Examiners:

Associate Professor, PhD Nils Vetti, Department of Radiology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Universitety of Bergen

Professor  Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Institut for Medicin og Sundhedsteknologi, Aalborg Universitet

Klinisk lektor Tine Nymark, Forskningsenhed for Ortopædkirurgi, Klinisk Institut, Syddansk Universitet (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Tue Secher Jensen, Department of Sports Science and Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark

M.Sc. Mohammadtaha Parsayan

Title: "PET/MRI Data Analysis and AI-Driven Classification ofAlzheimer's Disease Using Multi-Modal Data"

Date and time: 27-04-2026 at 14:00

Venue: DIAS Auditorium, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M 

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, M.D., Ph.D. Javier Arbizu Losatao, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Clínica Universidad de Navarra

Associate Professor, Ph.D. Claes Nøhr Ladefoged, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

Adjunct Professor, M.D., Friedemann Paul, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Sasan Andalib, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

 

Cand.polyt. Mikkel Møller Henriksen

Title: "Circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker in gastroesophageal cancer: Potential clinical applications in prognosis, treatment monitoring, and detection of recurrence"

Date and time: 27-04-2026 at 13:00

Venue: The Auditorium WP 15, J. B. Winsløws Vej 15, 5000 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Adjunct Assistant professor, Ph.D., MD Martin Sjöström, University of California, San Francisco, Lund university

Prof. Søren Besenbacher, Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University

Assoc. Prof. Mette Sørensen Thinggaard, Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Mads Thomassen, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

M.Sc. Matthew Thomas Keys

Title: "Determinants of exceptional health and survival: an epidemiological inquiry"

Date and time: 30-04-2026 at 13:00

Venue: Room U150, SDU, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Associate Professor Sara Hägg , Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institute

Professor Laust Hvas Mortensen, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen

Professor Dorte Glintborg, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Kaare Christensen, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Julie Hempel Larsen

Title: "The effect of empagliflozin on left ventricular morphology and physical capacity"

Date and time: 01-05-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Room: Emil Aastrup (Klinikbygningen at OUH), Kløvervænget 17, 5000 Odense C

Committee of Examiners:

Ass Prof, MD PhD MSc Associate Prof, MD, PhD, DmSc Frederik H. Verbrugge, Cardiology , University Hospital Brussels

MD, PhD Henrik Vase, Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital

Ass Professor MD, PhD Michael Stenger, Thoracic surgery, Odense University Hospital (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Jacob Eifer Møller, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.psych. Sebastian Boesgaard Bloch

Title: "The Coexistence of Meaningfulness and Psychological

Distress: A Quantitative Study of Young Adults"

Date and time: 01-05-2026 at 13:00

Venue: Odense Adelige Jomfrukloster, Albani Torv 6, 5000 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Ass. Prof. Suvi-Maria Saarelainen, Theology , University of Easthern Finland

Dr. med. Mette Kjærgaard Nielsen, Research unit for general practice, Public Health, Aarhus University

Ass. Prof. Sille Schandorph Løkkegaard, Psychology, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Dorte Toudal Viftrup, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

Cand.med. Henrik Zachar Langkilde

Title: "Pulmonary Disease Among Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a Cross Sectional study of a Population-based Cohort"

Date and time: 20-05-2026 at 14:15

Venue: Emil Aarestrup auditorium, Odense University Hospital, Klinikbygningen, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000 Odense C

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, MD, PhD Øyvind Molberg, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo

Assoc Prof, MD, PhD Søren Helbo Skaarup, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Prof, MD, PhD Henrik Frederiksen, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Assoc. Professor Anne Voss, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

 

Cand.scient.san.publ. Mette Rubæk

Title: "Osteoporosis patient education in Danish municipalities: A multi-method evaluation"

Date and time: 21-05-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Room 'Luftskibet', 2.0.16, The National Institute of Public Health, SDU, Studiestræde 6, 1455 Copenhagen K

Committee of Examiners:

Associate Professor Gunvor Hilde, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, OsloMet

Professor Emerita Kirsten Elisabeth Lomborg , Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen

Head of Department, Professor Pernille Tanggaard Andersen, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Senior Researcher Susan Andersen, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Cand.polyt. Mikkel Møller Henriksen

Title: "Circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker in gastroesophageal cancer: Potential clinical applications in prognosis, treatment monitoring, and detection of recurrence"

Date and time: 27-05-2026 at 13:00

Venue: The Auditorium WP 15, J. B. Winsløws Vej 15, 5000 Odense

Committee of Examiners:

Adjunct Assistant professor, Ph.D., MD Martin Sjöström, University of California, San Francisco, Lund university

Prof. Søren Besenbacher, Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University

Assoc. Prof. Mette Sørensen Thinggaard, Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Mads Thomassen, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk

Master of Medical Science Ulla Andersen

Title: "Cross-sectorial collaboration on people with hand osteoarthritis - Development and feasibility of the HANDY program"

Date and time: 12-06-2026 at 14:00

Venue: Frederiksberg Hospital Auditoriet (Hovedvejen nr. 14) Ndr. Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg C

Committee of Examiners:

Professor, Dr.Med Mathilda Björk, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV), Linköping University

Professor, PhD Janus Laust Thomsen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University

Assosiate professor, PhD Alice Ørts Hansen, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (chair)

Main supervisor:

Professor Eva Elisabet Ejlersen Wæhrens, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark

http://kalender.sdu.dk


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See information about how to plan your PhD defence here.

Plan your defence!

The PhD programme Faculty of Health Sciences University of Southern Denmark

  • Campusvej 55
  • Odense M - DK-5230
  • Phone: 6550 4949

Last Updated 08.04.2026