Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Presently 50 different professionals are employed. The unit has several experimental laboratories; IVF, stem cell biology and advanced ultrasound technique.

Research and research education are focused on women's health, pregnancy and pregnancy complications, fetal physiology, reproductive stem cell biology, infertility, fertility preservation, vascular physiology, fetal regenerative medicine, cervical cancer and several other topics

Organisation

Welcome to contact us!

Medical program

The division welcomes medical students in the courses Moment Reproduction and Clinical Rotation. In the Moment Reproduction course, part of the course Clinical Medicine – Emphasis on Reproduction and Development, we receive national students and international Erasmus students from our Nordic neighboring countries. The course covers both theoretical principles and clinical practice in the field of gynecology and obstetrics in both outpatient and inpatient care settings. Work-integrated learning is central during this course, with a strong emphasis on the primary care perspective, disease prevention, and principles and strategies for diagnosis. The course also addresses women's vulnerability in family and society, along with relevant regulations and laws. Throughout the course, new knowledge and skills are integrated with previous basic scientific and clinical knowledge.

Erasmus students from Karolinska Institutet's partner universities also have the opportunity to participate in work-integrated learning as part of the course Clinical Rotation – Gynecology and Obstetrics. The focus of the course is on clinical service, with patient-based supervision and individual feedback to further develop skills. Students have the opportunity to participate in the clinical work to a varying degree depending on their knowledge and experience. 

To inquire about your eligibility to enroll in our courses, please contact Karolinska Institutet’s international coordinator for incoming medical students.

Educational Research

Since 2021, the division has been conducting research on the pedagogical approach of Team-Based Learning (TBL), a central teaching method in the new national six-year medical program. TBL has previously been predominantly used in education at pre-clinical semesters, and the division is interested in studying the model's impact on students' clinical reasoning and professional development during clinical semesters. The research is led by the division in collaboration with other departments responsible for the course Moment Reproduction.

Publications

Sterpu I, Herling L, Nordquist J, Rotgans J, Acharya G. Team-based learning (TBL) in clinical disciplines for undergraduate medical students-a scoping review. BMC Med Educ. 2024 Jan 3;24(1):18.

Acharya G, Sterpu I, Herling L. Training future specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Is harmonization possible in Europe? Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2021 Nov;100(11):1939-1940. 

Postgraduate studies

At the division, we employ postgraduate students in both pre-clinical and clinical research. Information for postgraduate students is provided through CLINTEC's webpage for research students, and positions for doctoral candidates are advertised on Karolinska Institutet's job catalog.

In collaboration with the University of Toronto, Canada the division offers a course on Medical Developmental Biology, an exchange course for doctoral students and post-doctors. The primary aim of the course is to enhance understanding of issues in developmental and stem cell biology with direct implications for human development and disease. More information about the course is available in the education course catalog on Karolinska Institutet's website.

The division's researchers also serve as lecturers in courses for research students, such as Gene Regulation in the Early Human Embryo, a part of the Development and Regeneration (DevReg) doctoral program.

Specialised competence courses

The division, on behalf of the National Board of Health and Welfare, organizes the specialist competence course in Cervical Cancer Prevention. The course is a highly regarded foundational course for future specialists in gynecology. It includes lectures, case discussions, and image presentations. The course is aimed at aspiring gynecologists. Information about the application process is available on the National Board of Health and Welfare's website. 

Education and research networks

The division runs the research network Tissue and Motion, which focuses on the research field of regenerative medicine. The network aims to integrate pre-clinical and clinical research and foster collaborations, especially for junior researchers.

Pedagogical awards

In 2023, Susanna Eriksson, a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist and clinical assistant at the division, received the award for the best supervisor from the Swedish Medical Association, Stockholm Student Section.

In 2021, Hedvig Engberg, a specialist obstetrician and gynecologist and former clinical assistant at the division, received the award for the best supervisor from the Swedish Medical Association, Stockholm Student Section.