You have worked for several years as a senior physician, surgeon, and head of world-leading surgical teams, and now you are CEO of Gastro Center. A for-profit limited company in the ”startup phase”. What do you experience as the biggest challenges in your new role?
There are of course many, but the two biggest and most important have been and are partly to get optimal premises outside the hospital to conduct healthcare with surgical operations and inpatient care, partly to recruit the right people and create the most dynamic team possible from these individuals. Then there are several other challenges as well, as I said, but these two are the most important and the right employees are the most important of all.

What can the private sector learn from the research world and professional surgical teams?
I think the question can be asked: what can we learn from each other in both directions? The research world and surgery are permeated by critical thinking, patient safety, patient benefit, team thinking, and creating efficiency in complex organizations. There are things to be inspired by there in the private sector, even if some things are already addressed today. Efficiency, accessibility, cost awareness, and production thinking are things that can inspire in the other direction. However, the interfaces are somewhat blurred and both worlds meet, I think.

To what extent do you work together with doctors in other countries, and what does the international collaboration look like?
At my previous workplace, I was part of several strong networks, both national and international. I still hold several positions there to maintain contacts within these networks, as it is not as natural for private healthcare providers to be a part of it. I think it is very important to keep these networks alive to prevent stagnation and home blindness, as well as to embrace development and collaboration. There are several potential gains to be made in both directions here, and I hope that we at GHP Gastro Center Gothenburg can lead the way as private healthcare providers regarding scientific collaboration and quality work for the benefit of patients!