Sari Ponzer

Sari Ponzer, MD, PhD, Senior Professor at Karolinska Institutet (KISÖS).

I am currently Scientific ombudsman, Campus Syd, KI as well as member of University Board of Örebro University (since 2020), member of Board of Karolinska University Hospital (since 2023), member of Board of The Swedish Agency for Health and Care Services Analysis (since 2025) and member of the Board of Gunnar Höglund och Anna-Stina Malmborg Foundation (KIPRIME Foundation).

I completed my undergraduate medical education at KI in 1986 and became specialist in orthopaedic surgery in 1994. I defended my PhD thesis in traumatology in 1996. I was appointed as associate professor (docent) in 2001 and as professor 2007 at KI.
I have worked since 1986 as a clinician, lecturer and course director for different courses in undergraduate medical education. I was the Head (prefekt) of the Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet (2002-2007). I chaired KI:s curriculum committee for undergraduate medical education (2004-2007). I was appointed as Vice Dean of Education (2008) and Dean of Education (2009-2011) at KI. I was responsible for the reform of KI:s Nursing program (2010).

Parallel with my duties as professor at KI, I worked as the Head of the Department of Orthopaedics (2011-2019), the Head of Department of Emergency (2019-2023) and the Director of Research, Development, Education and Innovation (2014-2025) at Södersjukhuset (hospital). I was the member of the University Board of Södertörn University (2013-2019) and the Chair of Karolinska Institute’s Pedagogical Academy (2021-2023).

I chaired the Committee of Karolinska Institutet Prize for Research in Medical Education, KIPRIME (2010-2024).

I have been visiting professor in Australia; Melbourne 2008, Perth 2011 and Tasmania 2014.
I was rewarded Karolinska Institutet pedagogical prize 2003 and Matts Halldin Prize for pedagogical efforts in clinical education 2005.

My research in orthopaedic surgery has aimed at improving the care of patients with injuries of the musculoskeletal system. The main focus was on osteoporosis-related fractures. I have also been engaged in reseach in medical education and have led several pedagogical and PhD projects with a focus on interprofessional education, leadership in education and professional development. I have during the years published about 190 original papers and have supervised 33 PhD students up to their dissertation.