Precongress Day: Osteopathic Education

Hans-Christian Åsheim is a professor of immunology with a background in molecular biology and currently works as dean of School Health Science.

Åsheim has previously worked as a research group leader at the Norwegian Radium Hospital and Ullevål Hospital, and has been head of department at Oslo and Akershus University College (now OsloMet) and at the University of Oslo.

Ronja Strømsborg Lund is the Study Program Manager for the Osteopathic Education and has worked at Kristiania since 2012. In leading the education, she is a committed lecturer and teaches anatomy, physiology, pathology and subjects in osteopathic theory and method on the bachelor's degree and further education in osteopathy. Lund has also been engaged as a board member and deputy chair of the Norwegian Osteopathic Association.

Martin Stav Engedahl is an osteopath and physiotherapist with a master's degree in sports physiotherapy. He is a college lecturer at Kristiania University College.

Martin has many years of clinical experience from working in private clinics, rehabilitation centers and grassroots and elite sports, especially in ice hockey and floorball. For several years, he has worked with elite teams in ice hockey and floorball, age-specific national teams in ice hockey and as medical officer for the men's national floorball team.

Martin has extensive experience in teaching at colleges and as a lecturer in the fields of osteopathy and sports injuries. He has participated in development projects under the auspices of the Centre for Sports Trauma Research and is active with several research and development projects in osteopathy. In 2011, he completed his master's studies in sports physiotherapy at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, where he helped develop a new method for registering repetitive strain injuries in sports. This method is now used in several research projects around the world.

Pål Andre Amundsen is a Ph.D fellow in the project "Returning people with persistent pain to work using Individual Supported Employment placements (ReISE)"

He is a trained Osteopath D.O, BSc from the Norwegian School of Health (now Kristiania University College, School of Health Science), and worked full-time in clinical practice before starting as a college teacher at Kristiania University College in 2013. Pål Andre has a master's degree in clinical management of pain from the University of Edinburgh, where he was named best student two years in a row. Until November 2021, he was a college lecturer and study program leader for the Bachelor in Osteopathy, and for further education in osteopathy.

Most patients who visit osteopaths and other health professionals experience pain that can be affected and maintained by both physical, mental and social factors. Therefore, he has researched, and wants to build up a further research career around pain issues and occupational health; how to get people suffering from pain back to work.

He has been invited to both national and international conferences to give lectures and workshops on pain issues and how to deal with patients with complex pain disorders.

Christian Fossum, DO, is an Associate Professor at the School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College. His previous roles includes Assistant Professor, Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (USA); Associate Director, AT Still Research Institute (USA); Vice Principal of the European School of Osteopathy (UK). He has lectured worldwide at under- and postgraduate levels, co-authored numerous papers and articles, and received several awards for his services to the osteopathic profession.

Line Rølvaag obtained her osteopathic degree in 2004. Prior to this, she completed her BSc in physiotherapy at Oslo MET. She has also studied ethics, religion, and philosophy at the University of Oslo. Additionally, she holds an MSc in Clinical Education from the Medical School, University of Edinburgh.

For the past fifteen years, Line has been teaching osteopathy at Kristiania University College. She operates a clinic in Kolbotn where she specializes in treating children and women’s health issues. Line has conducted workshops both in Norway and internationally. She has been a member of one of the committees of the Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) for the past five years. Previously, she was also active in board work for the Norwegian Osteopathic Association.

Another area of interest for Line is osteopathic identity and how the profession can continue to evolve with a strong and distinct identity. She is committed to advancing the profession and ensuring its growth and recognition on a global scale.

Dr Oliver Thomson practices as an osteopath in London, where he works in a multidisciplinary clinic. In addition to his clinical role, Oliver holds a position as an Associate Professor at the University College of Osteopathy where he leads the Doctoral programme and lectures/supervises undergraduates and postgraduate students.

His main research interests are using qualitative methodologies to understand the clinical reasoning, beliefs, behaviours and identities of health professionals and osteopaths and he has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in these areas. Oliver is also an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine and BMC Health Services Research.

Dr. William Devine has always had an interest in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM). Over the years he has expanded his interests in manual medicine. He has interests in medical education, medical history, medical research, and medical health policy.

He integrated osteopathic concepts and philosophy into his present osteopathic manual medicine practice. He is nationally and internationally known and respected as a lecturer and author of topics in osteopathic manipulative medicine.

As an osteopathic family physician his skills and interests expanded including hospital committee chair positions, executive committee, and board member.

He was a very active family practitioner for over 25 years, utilizing osteopathic principles and methods fully in his military and private practice. He was one of the original founders of the Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and served for 26 years.

Today he is recognized by many medical organizations nationally and internationally in his medical specialty of Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM and OMM).