Active contribution in organisations and the will to influence society brought Professor Oskari Heikinheimo to the vice-deanship. His role as vice-dean for public engagement encompasses activities associated with collaboration partners, alumni and fundraising.
As much as 60% of Faculty of Medicine funding arrives from external sources, such as the EU, the Research Council of Finland, foundations and private donors.
“Donations mean a great deal to research and teaching, where I see a lot of operational development potential. We are a significant influence both in Finnish medical research and abroad. There are many factors that support the conduct of top-level research in our fields specifically in Finland, such as Finnish patients and medical professionals, comprehensive registry data and effective biobank operations,” Professor Heikinheimo says.
“Every single euro secured for medical research is important! Endowed funds support roughly 40 professorships or other positions at the Faculty, which speaks to the importance of donations to research,” Heikinheimo says, acknowledging the donors.
Over 5,000 Faculty alumni
Among the first things on Heikinheimo’s agenda is the development of alumni activities and the strengthening of alumni connections.
The alumni of the Faculty of Medicine have already collaborated extensively to support the Faculty as well as its degree programmes and students. Their work has included mentoring, boosting employer contacts for the degree programmes, and sparring as part of the Faculty’s doctoral education.
The Faculty of Medicine has 5,400 alumni, many of whom hold key positions in organisations.
“It’s great to invite them to our events, such as the
Heikinheimo is an active contributor to society. For four years he has been a member of the Faculty Council and the University Collegium, making the transition to vice-deanship a natural continuation of these duties. He is active in organisations, serving in a range of positions in Finnish and international academic associations of his field. He has also contributed to drafting many care guidelines.
Inspiring work as a way of life
Heikinheimo decided on his field of study in general upper secondary school. His dentist parents had several doctor friends who impressed the young Oskari.
“I’m lucky, as I've had the opportunity to meet wonderful, exemplary and inspiring people all my life,” Heikinheimo says.
At the time, being admitted as a doctoral researcher to the Steroid Research Laboratory at the Department of Medical Chemistry in the early 1980s was important for Heikinheimo’s career. The fate of his medical and research career was sealed by a postdoctoral position at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Norfolk, Virginia.
“Gynaecology is a diverse specialist field that holds an inexhaustible number of research topics. Medical research has progressed from individual achievements towards collaboration. It’s also more rewarding for researchers.”
In his work, Heikinheimo is particularly interested in guiding and encouraging junior researchers, international contacts and teaching. He has regrettably little time for patient care.
“As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that you don’t have the resources to do everything, so you should choose wisely.”
For Heikinheimo, a career in research is more than a job – it is a way of life that he considers constantly inspiring rather than stressful.
As one of the vice-deans of the Faculty, Professor Heikinheimo is the successor of the retired Professor Kari Reijula.
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