Academic subjects
Education
Undergraduate training: Subject of Emergency Medicine is responsible for teaching all aspects of emergency medicine related to acute illness or trauma. Although Emergency Medicine has a long history in the field of medicine, in Finland this academic subject is recently established and focus is especially on skills related to patient treatment in Hospitals Emergency Departments. Education and training will be carried-out in close co-operation with Kuopio University Hospitals Emergency Department. Study modules will be informed later.
Medical specialist training: Scope of this degree is to give education and training related to working in Emergency Departments covering all aspects of Emergency Medicine. Therefore, this training is carried-out with close co-operation with Unit of Acute Medicine in Kuopio University Hospital and with similar units in Central Hospitals in Eastern and Central Finland, which have contracted as acting postgraduate training with university. For specializing physician an individual degree programme will be planned.
The head of the academic subject is professor Jouni Kurola.
Research
Research group focus on detecting acute cardiac arrhythmias with commercial handheld devices is lead by Tero Martikainen, PhD and another group lead by professor Jouni Kurola is focusing on Prehospital Emergency Medicine. These groups have several researchers, mainly focusing on doctoral thesis, but also related to undergraduate advanced studies.
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate training
Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care is responsible for teaching anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine, emergency medicine and pain management. The academic subject also provides teaching in English for exchange students. Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care provides teaching and training in close cooperation with Kuopio University Hospital´s (KUH) Anaesthesia and Surgery / Pre-hospital Emergency Care, Emergencies and Intensive Care service units. Along with undergraduate training, it is a popular option to carry out clinical clerkship periods in KUH´s Anaesthesia and Surgery / Prehospital Emergency Care, Emergencies and Intensive Care service units. The clinical clerkships equip students well for clinical work. Both professors have a part-time post as chief physician and both clinical lecturers have a secondary post in KUH´s Clinical Support Services service area.
Medical specialist training
In addition to undergraduate training, the University of Eastern Finland´s discipline of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care is responsible for medical specialist training jointly with KUH´s Anaesthesia and Surgery / Prehospital Emergency Care, Emergencies and Intensive Care service units, and with central hospitals that have contracted a postgraduate education agreement with the university. An individual degree programme, both in terms of training locations and education content, is planned for every student enrolled in medical specialist training. This ensures that specialising physicians receive comprehensive training and are well equipped to work as specialists in anaesthesiology and intensive care.
The head of the academic subject is professor Ari Uusaro.
Research
In addition to teaching, the discipline of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care conducts active research in anaesthesiology, intensive care, emergency medicine and pain management. The discipline supervises the final work of students completing advanced studies and Master´s theses as well as the dissertations of students pursuing doctoral degrees. A number of active research teams work within the discipline. Research activities are conducted in cooperation with other UEF and KUH clinics, schools, departments and institutes, as well as with the disciplines and clinics of anaesthesiology and intensive care in other universities and university hospitals in Finland. The discipline also engages in international research collaboration. New members are admitted to research teams on a continual basis. Work on advanced studies as well as on doctoral dissertations can be started already in the preclinical stage.
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate training
The basic course in medicine aims to offer a study module that serves open healthcare practices and to provide the basics of diagnosing and treating skin diseases, venereal diseases and allergic skin conditions. An important goal is development of the discipline, high-quality postgraduate education, promotion of scientific research and international research cooperation.
Medical specialist training
Specialist medical training in dermatology and allergology as well as postgraduate and continuing education are provided in cooperation with Kuopio University Hospital´s Dermatology Clinic and the dermatology units of central hospitals in the special responsibility area.
The head of the academic subject is professor Ilkka Harvima.
Research
Personnel
Education
The academic subject of pulmonary diseasess is responsible for the pregraduate education of pulmonary disorders as well as postgraduate education of those specializing to the pulmonary diseases. The education takes place in the Kuopio University Hospital.
The head of the academic subject is professor Heikki Koskela.
Research
The group lead by professor Heikki Koskela investigates the mechanisms, risk factors and prognosis of chronic cough. The group lead by docent Minna Purokivi investigates fibrosing lung diseases by means of health registers and prospective studies. In addition, there are investigations about chronic obstructive lung disease, allergology, and lung cancer.
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate education
The majority of teaching is conducted the facilities of Kuopio University Hospital in training demonstration rooms of surgery and physiatry unit clinics, for example. The studies are carried out in the form of group teaching, seminars and lectures. Students will become acquainted with different specialities in surgery (gastroenterological surgery, orthopaedics, traumatology and hand surgery, plastic surgery, urology, vascular surgery, heart and thorax surgery, paediatric surgery) and physiatry. During the surgery course all students get to learn about a surgeon's/an orthopaedist's work in the operating theatre.
Medical specialist training
In addition to undergraduate training medical specialist training in orthopaedics, traumatology, gastroenterological surgery, urology, plastic surgery, paediatric surgery, vascular surgery, heart and thorax surgery, general surgery and framework training of surgical fields is also offered at the specialisation phase of the academic subject.
The head of the academic subject is professor Heikki Kröger.
Research
Personnel
Education
Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine is responsible for teaching and research work, which consists of the examination of organ functions and their disorders by means of physiological measurements and functional imaging examinations. The field closely involves medical technology development, validation and clinical application. Methods from clinical physiology and nuclear medicine are utilised especially in diagnostics, in assessing the extent of functional disorders, in planning treatments and in monitoring the clinical course and treatment response.
Undergraduate medical training, medical specialist training in clinical physiology and nuclear medicine as well as scientific research take place in close cooperation with the KUH Diagnostic Imaging Centre.
The head of the academic subject is professor Tomi Laitinen.
Personnel
Clinical Chemistry and Hematology (laboratory medicine) are one of the diagnostic specialities. The services of the clinical laboratories are used for the diagnosis and follow-up of diseases. The discipline investigates blood, urine or other body fluid samples and cells. A variety of techniques are used to measure concentrations and activities of enzymes, proteins and metabolites, changes in cells and genes. New methods are developed and evaluated in joint projects with the clinics.
The clinical services of the discipline of clinical chemistry are provided by the Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre Join Authority Enterprise (ISLAB) (www.islab.fi/). In addition, teaching and research are performed in cooperation with ISLAB and Kuopio University Hospital.
Education
The discipline participates in the teaching of medical, dental, pharmacy and biochemistry students and provides post-graduate education. Teaching for medical students involves applying the principles of evidence-based laboratory medicine and patient-cases. The discipline also participates actively in Graduate School of Clinical Research Kuopio University Hospital and University of Eastern Finland. The training provided to clinical chemistry residents (both MDs and clinical biochemists) is organized together with ISLAB. The facilities are located in the main laboratory of ISLAB in the main building of Kuopio University Hospital.
The head of the academic subject is professor Esa Hämäläinen.
Research
The research focuses on the evaluation or development of new biomarkers through joint projects with clinical units. The main focus has been on new biomarkers for iron metabolism, cardiac diseases and inflammation-related damage of cells and tissues. NEBKEY (New biomarkers for key processes of metabolism and inflammation)-project involves collaboration with several clinical projects.
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate education:
Clinical Microbiology is responsible for undergraduate teaching in clinical microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases to students of medicine, dentistry and biomedicine.
Medical specialist training:
In addition to undergraduate teaching, Clinical Microbiology offers medical specialist training in Clinical Microbiology. This training is organized in close collaboration with the Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre (ISLAB).
The head of the academic subject is professor Tuure Kinnunen.
Research
Research focuses on investigating immune system defects in human autoimmune diseases. In addition to immunology, undergraduate thesis projects in clinical microbiology are also offered.
Personnel
Education
Teaching, research and specialist training are conducted in close collaboration with the Diagnostic Imaging Center (Neurophysiology) of Kuopio University Hospital (KUH). Basic teaching for medical students on clinical neurophysiology is delivered in the 2nd, 4th and 5th year studies as parts of their physiology, neurology and neurosurgery courses.
The head of the academic subject is professor Esa Mervaala.
Research
Clinical neurophysiology is undertaking several clinically oriented research programs, e.g. the use of acute emergency EEG in outpatient medical service, and studies improving the diagnostics of sleep-apnea. There are also several programs applying navigated TMS on basic human brain research as well as on new treatment options.
Personnel
Education
Pathology is concerned with the diagnosis of diseases. The discipline provides basic education for medical students (general and systematic pathology as well as forensic medicine). Pathology courses are also given to students of dentistry, life sciences and pharmacy. The training of pathology residents is organized in cooperation with the Department of Clinical Pathology situated in the Kuopio University Hospital.
The head of the academic subject is professor Veli-Matti Kosma.
Research
Several clinicopathological research projects investigating cancer genetics and genomics, the importance epigenetic factors as well changes in the tumour microenvironment are taking place as part of the so-called spearhead project "Cancer Center of Eastern Finland (CCEF).
Personnel
Education
Radiological examinations are used to determine the nature of the diseases and to evaluate the extent of the diseases. At the end of the studies, students must be able to interpret x-rays at the hospital emergency room and at the health centre independently. The students know the basics, indications and limitations of the ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography and interventional radiology. The students are aware of the further studies.
Degree programme
The teaching consists of lectures, small group teaching and seminars. The small group teaching is arranged at the demonstration room at the department of clinical radiology (KUH). The demonstration room has radiological workstations that are connected to the Kuopio University Hospital picture archiving and communication system. In the beginning of the course the students are introduced to the picture archiving and communication system. During the course, radiological examination and imaging methods are presented to the students with example cases. Students are also introduced to the radiation protection. In the end of the course, there will be a compulsory picture revision. The exam consists of both essays and radiograms. The students have access to an internet based self-study material for medical students that has referrals and diagnoses. Students also have the opportunity to participate in the optional course of Emergency Radiology. This course includes follow up the work of the on call radiologist and participation to the radiological meetings.
The head of the academic subject is professor Ritva Vanninen, starting 1.3.2022 professor Juhana Hakumäki.
Research
Education
The aim is to create a study module, based on scientific research, that serves open healthcare practices. The course focuses especially on the clinical examination of patients and provides instruction in manual skills. We aim to develop a good learning atmosphere through interaction between staff and students. We develop the study module continuously, taking into account student feedback, while we also use new teaching methods. In addition, we offer high-quality international teaching.
The lectures on the core competence areas are held twice a year with the same content, from August to September as well as in January. Small group teaching is implemented in four-week periods at the KUH Otorhinolaryngology Clinic throughout the academic year. In small group teaching, the students examine patients at the outpatient clinic, the health centre, and on the ward. The teaching also includes seminars and familiarisation with the operation of the different units of the clinic. The most important content covers Otorhinolaryngology, Phoniatrics, and Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine.
Together with the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of the Kuopio University Hospital, the discipline participates in discipline-specific specialist medical training as well as postgraduate and continuing professional education. An important goal is to develop the discipline of otorhinolaryngology, offer high-quality postgraduate education, and promote scientific research.
The head of the academic subject is professor Heikki Löppönen.
Personnel
Education
The discipline provides undergraduate education in child psychiatry for medical students. Teaching is given at Alava Hospital, at the Department of Child Psychiatry at Kuopio University Hospital (KUH). Specialization training in child psychiatry is organized in co-operation with KUH and, according to separate agreements, with other central hospitals in the area. The duration of specialist training in child psychiatry is determined by the fulfillment of competence objectives and usually lasts about six years. The discipline also organizes child psychotherapy training in co-operation with the Department of Child Psychiatry at KUH, regularly arranges regional training and provides education in co-operation with the Open University.
The head of the academic subject is professor Ilona Luoma.
Research
The focus of research is on longitudinal and clinical studies.
Personnel
The permanent staff includes a professor and a clinical lecturer (Alava hospital, B2, Floor 2) and a teaching coordinator (KUH, Building 5, Floor 8).
Education
Undergraduate training
The discipline of Paediatrics in undergraduate medical training (14 ECTS credits) provides training both in paediatrics and in child neurology. The objective of the course is to teach future physicians the basics of children´s health and the treatment of their illnesses with a focus on the skills and know-how required in open healthcare. Basic education is provided by many specialists at KUH´s Paediatrics Department and other staff, in addition to the university´s lecturers.
Medical specialist training
Medical specialist training is provided both in paediatrics (6-year degree programme) and in child neurology (5-year degree programme). Both specialist degree programmes have their own responsible persons, and practical service is carried out in KUH, other central hospitals and health centres.
The work spaces of the lecturers and teaching coordinator in the Paediatrics discipline are located in KUH, building 6 (5th floor). Paediatrics also has facilities for research work in the Clincal Research Centre (Canthia building).
The head of the academic subject is professor Jarmo Jääskeläinen.
Research
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate training
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kuopio University Hospital, Central Hospital of North Karelia and Central Hospital of Jyväskylä, organises undergraduate and postgraduate training in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. The undergraduate programme comprises an eight-week clinical rotation during 5th academic year. The total extent of the clinical phase is 13 ECTS. Medical students can also do an elective rotation (1.5 ECTS) in perinatal medicine, gynaecologic oncology, or gynaecologic endocrinology and infertility programmes.
The head of the academic subject is professor Leea Keski-Nisula.
Research
The discipline of obstetrics and gynaecology provides continuing medical education both at the regional and national levels. The discipline's research activities cover areas from basic science to registry based studies. The main focus areas are birth registry studies, epidemiology of osteoporosis, molecular genetics and experimental gene therapy of ovarian cancer.
Research group
KUH Neurosurgery is the sole center serving the Eastern Finnish catchment population and it provides full emergency and elective services (trauma / neurovascular / neuro-oncology / spine / pediatric / functional). Annually, it conducts 2.200 operations and 4.000 outpatient visits, and some 40 % of cases are treated acutely.
The head of the academic subject is professor Ville Leinonen.
Research Groups
- Intracranial Aneurysm Group
- Microsurgery Center KYS
- NPH and Early AD Group
- Pain Neuromodulation Group
Personnel
Discipline of neurology carries out extensive and international research into Alzheimer's disease, its epidemiology and risk factors; biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders; molecular and functional genetics; molecular neuropathology; epilepsy; and cerebrovascular disorders.
More than 110 doctoral dissertations have been completed at the field of neurology, and our projects employ approximately 20 PhD students. We publish an average of 90 articles in international scientific journals every year.
Kuopio University Hospital: Neurocenter & Neurology clinic
The Neurology Clinic at the Neurocenter of Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) is responsible for the diagnostics and treatment of neurological disorders in the North-Savo hospital district, and it works in close cooperation with primary health care institutions, district hospitals and hospitals within the special responsibility area ("ERVA-area") of KUH. In difficult neurological cases, the clinic is at the service of the entire ERVA-area of KUH, encompassing nearly one million people.
The Neurology clinic employs 70 experts in neurology. The activities of the clinic are characterised by a multi-professional approach involving tight cooperation between physicians, nurses, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation counsellors, memory nurses and social workers in solving the client's problems.
The head of the academic subject is professor Reetta Kälviäinen.
Research
Research groups
- Clinical Alzheimer Research
- Alzheimer's desease Follow-up study (ALSOVA)
- Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Disorders
- Brain Research Unit - Clinical Drug Research
- Cerebrovascular Disorders and Stroke Recovery
- Clinical Epilepsy Research
- FinFTD - Finnish FTD Research Network
- Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration and Early Onset Dementia
- Molecular Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
Personnel
Education
The discipline of forensic psychiatry is located in Niuvanniemi Hospital. It is responsible for providing basic and continuing education for students of forensic psychiatry; the personnel also undertake research in this field.
Undergraduate education
Discipline of forensic psychiatry is responsible for giving the 1.5 ECTS credits course including lectures and group lessons in forensic psychiatry for medical studies.
Medical specialist training
The training is arranged in collaboration with Niuvanniemi Hospital. After training, each resident specializing in forensic psychiatry shall have knowledge and abilities in criminal, administrative, and civil forensic psychiatry.
The head of the academic subject is professor Jari Tiihonen.
Research
The most important topics are research in etiology and neurobiology of mental disorders and violent behavior, the effectiveness of treatments and treatment practices by using national databases, and conducting of randomized clinical intervention trials.
Researh groups
- Randomized Controlled Trials in Substance Dependence and Antisocial Behavior
- Genetics of Violent Crime
- Real-world Effectiveness of Pharmacological Treatment
- Neurobiology of schizophrenia
- Research in Niuvanniemi Hospital
Personnel
Education
Licentiate in medicine - undergraduate programme
The discipline of psychiatry provides the undergraduate education required in medical licentiate degree program during all clinical years and also arranges training courses for psychopathology, etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of mental disorders among adolescents and adults. The education is based on scientific research and clinical experience. The teaching methods involve lectures, group lessons and seminars.
Specialist degree
- Specialist training in psychiatry
A specialist and post-graduate training in psychiatry is given in the Department of Psychiatry of Kuopio University Hospital and to some extent also in the central and regional hospitals in the district of the University of Eastern Finland. - Specialist training in adolescent psychiatry
The specialist training in adolescent psychiatry is a six-year program, which includes both theoretical studies and clinical work. Training is provided in cooperation with the Kuopio University Hospital and by separate arrangements with the other hospitals included in the area of Kuopio University Hospital.
The head of the academic subject is professor Minna Valkonen-Korhonen.
Research
According to the research strategy of the discipline of psychiatry, we are involved in interdisciplinary research on depression with the other clinical specialties in Kuopio University Hospital. The interdisciplinary research in adolescent psychiatry focuses on psychological growth and its risk factors with one specific area of interest being the use of alcohol and its influence on psychological and physical health, on brain anatomy and neurophysiological functioning.
- Follow-up study with randomized clinical vitamin D supplementation trial on patients with depression (DepFuD)
- Adolescent psychiatry: Youth Well-being Study and REAL-SMART
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate training
The discipline of ophthalmology provides future physicians with basic education in ophthalmology (6 ECTS credits) in periods of four weeks during the fourth or fifth year of studies. Teaching takes place in cooperation with Kuopio University Hospital´s Ophthalmology Clinic. Students may also complete an elective course in ophthalmology (1.5 ECTS credits) and pursue advanced studies in ophthalmology (20–30 ECTS credits). The discipline offers students the opportunity to take an international course in ophthalmology (6 ECTS credits). It is also responsible for medical specialist training in ophthalmology and postgraduate degrees in ophthalmology.
The head of the academic subject is professor Kai Kaarniranta.
Research
The focus area of research consists of ocular ageing and chronic eye diseases causing visual impairment (age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy).
Research groups
Personnel
Education
Undergraduate training
Most of the teaching is carried out in the facilities of Kuopio University Hospital in the form of small-group teaching, lectures and seminars. Students are familiarised with all of the specialities in internal medicine (endocrinology, gastroenterology, haematology, infectious diseases, cardiology, nephrology and rheumatology).
Instruction in internal medicine starts in the third year with a propaedeutic course (jointly with the disipline of Surgery) and an integrated organ-specific course (specific training in General Medical Practice, YEK), which is integrated with Surgery. The propaedeutic course teaches students the basics of patient examination, (incl. interviewing the patient and clinical examination). On the YEK course, students focus on patient examination on an organ-specific basis in greater depth touching on all the abovementioned internal medicine specialities.
Sixth-year students participate in supplementary training in internal medicine in which some of the teaching has been decentralised to Central Finland Central Hospital and North Karelia Central Hospital. Students who have enrolled in the decentralised training at the central hospitals referred to above complete supplementary training in internal medicine in a two-week period. The other half of the class completes the supplementary training in Kuopio University Hospital.
Students can generally enrol in advanced studies in internal medicine during the third year, after having completed the propaedeutic course. First- or second-year students may also be accepted for advanced studies on a case-by-case basis.
At the end of the sixth year, students take the final examination in internal medicine.
The head of the academic subject is professor Johanna Kuusisto.
Research
Personnel
The discipline of oncology enjoys close co-operation with the Cancer Centre within Kuopio University Hospital. In addition to the University personnel, also the specialist clinicians participate actively in our teaching programmes.
Education
Undergraduate teaching
The discipline of oncology provides teaching for Finnish medical student in the final year of their clinical studies. Teaching is also given earlier during the studies; then it is integrated with other medical specialties and also in conjunction with some other faculties of University of Eastern Finland. Every year, several foreign medical students take part in the oncology teaching course.
Postgraduate teaching
The discipline of oncology is one of the five university centres for specialist training in oncology in Finland. Specialization in oncology is a five-year programme of which a minimum of two years must be undertaken in a university hospital. NOTE! Before a student can qualify for specialist training he/she must possess the State Authorisation to Practice Medicine in Finland.
The head of the academic subject is professor Outi Kuittinen.
Research
- Cancer Center of Eastern Finland (CCEF)
- Predicting the outcome and toxicity in radiotherapy of head and neck cancers (TIARA)
- Targeting cancer cells by magnetic field modified radical reactions and ionizing radiation (TARZAN)
- Fully automated target delineation service in multi-institutional environment in Finland (FAST)
- Kuopio and Oulu translational and clinical lymphoma study group
- Effectiveness of cancer diagnostic and therapy, attitudes of patients and physicians, and how patients socioeconomical status interferes these aspects