New distinguished university teachers at Medfarm

Peter Thelin Schmidt

Professor at the Department of Medical Sciences

Who are you and where do you teach most?
“I grew up in Denmark but have lived and worked in Sweden for over 25 years. I am a Senior Consultant in gastroenterology at Uppsala University Hospital and a Professor in the field at the Department of Medical Sciences.”

“I teach on the Medicine Programme, supervise doctoral students, and provide training on continuing education courses in endoscopic examinations of the gastrointestinal tract.”

Do you have any particular pedagogical interests?
“Supervision and feedback in various contexts – for medical students, doctoral students, and during continuing education. I have also worked extensively with simulation courses and interprofessional learning.”

What does this appointment mean to you?
“I am both pleased and proud of the appointment. It feels very positive that the University recognises and values the development of teaching. I also look forward to being part of the Pedagogical Academy at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy and contributing to its ongoing educational work.”

What are your hopes for the Pedagogical Academy and future work?
“I hope the Pedagogical Academy can help create new and inspiring teaching activities. I also hope we can engage even more physicians and healthcare professionals, both in hospitals and primary care, in the work of developing and improving teaching.”

Elenor Kaminsky

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences

Who are you and where do you teach most?
“My name is Elenor Kaminsky, and I teach on the Nursing Programmes as well as in specialist training in general practice at Region Uppsala’s Primary Care and Health Services.”

Do you have any particular pedagogical interests?
“I am particularly interested in communication, interpersonal interaction, and equal opportunities, which are also themes in my research. I am passionate about student-centred learning and regularly ask students to provide brief written evaluations immediately after my teaching sessions. This provides valuable feedback for the development of my courses.”

What does this appointment mean to you?
“It is an honourable appointment, which made me very happy. It recognises my teaching efforts and is very meaningful in my day-to-day work. Applying for recognition as a distinguished university teacher was both challenging and instructive. It was enriching to pause, reflect, and engage with feedback.”

What are your hopes for the Pedagogical Academy and future work?
“I hope the Pedagogical Academy will inspire my continued pedagogical development. I look forward to discussing educational issues at the Academy and potentially serving as a mentor, following the mentor training we have been invited to. I had a mentor after completing a pedagogical course in 2012, and I would be glad to ‘give back’ by supporting colleagues in need of mentoring. The Academy’s network has already led to emerging research collaborations, which is very promising.”

Ulrika Rosenström

Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Who are you, and where do you teach most?
“I am a Senior Lecturer in organic pharmaceutical chemistry and also hold a docent title in pharmaceutical chemistry. I work at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and currently teach mainly on the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy, but I am also involved in courses on the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy and Biomedicine Programme.”

Do you have any particular pedagogical interests?
“Not a single specific area, but I enjoy teaching and am passionate about my subject. I work to engage students and create conditions for their learning at various levels.”

What does this appointment mean to you?
“It is a confirmation that my teaching methods are effective and that I reach students, doctoral students, and colleagues alike.”

What are your hopes for the Pedagogical Academy and future work?
– Personally, I look forward to participating in pedagogical discussions and contexts. It is through interaction with other educators that I find inspiration, affirmation, and the courage to try new approaches. On a broader level, I believe the Pedagogical Academy can play a role in highlighting the importance of pedagogy, promoting innovation, and supporting university teachers.

Sebastian Barg

Professor at the Department of Medical Cell Biology

Who are you, and where do you teach most?
“I am a Professor in cell physiology at the Department of Medical Cell Biology, with research interests in hormone secretion and diabetes. In education, I am responsible for approximately 60 doctoral courses at Medfarm and lead a large cell biology course in the first term of the Medicine Programme. I primarily teach cell biology and endocrinology and supervise doctoral students.”

Do you have any particular pedagogical interests?
“Doctoral studies.”

What does this appointment mean to you?
“It represents recognition for my commitment to undergraduate and doctoral education, both personally and for my department.”

What are your hopes for the Pedagogical Academy and future work?
“The Academy is new to me, but I have collaborated with PRåM. I hope it becomes a resource that is relevant and accessible for our teachers, especially the younger ones. Beyond that, I look forward to inspiration and pedagogical exchange across disciplinary boundaries.”

Bobo Skillinghaug

Lecturer at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

Who are you, and where do you teach most?
“Although I promised myself as an engineering student that I would not stay in academia, I have been a university lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry for eight years. I am a teacher who finds it more enjoyable to talk about chemistry than about myself. I teach on the Bachelor of Science Programme in Pharmacy, Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy, Biomedicine Programme, and Master's Programme in Chemical Engineering (which I studied myself). What I enjoy most about my job is learning new things and having fun at work – and when I enjoy myself, it tends to rub off on the students.”

Do you have any particular pedagogical interests?
“I enjoy making complex concepts understandable and encouraging students to tackle challenging problems independently. My interest lies in aligning teaching with cognitive science and evidence-based didactics – not just theory, but practical methods that work. I also try to connect chemistry to students’ own interests and contexts, so they see its relevance in their daily life and future careers.”

What does this appointment mean to you?
“The title itself does not mean much to me, but I am interested in learning more about the work of the Pedagogical Academy.”

What are your hopes for the Pedagogical Academy and future work?
“I want to learn from others’ experiences to improve teaching. Society is undergoing significant changes, and we need to develop our teaching thoughtfully. Much work is already underway at the Faculty of Pharmacy to meet these challenges, and I hope to be involved in that.”

Robin Widing