Heidi Furu is the new Professor of Practice in Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine at the University of Turku
Heidi Furu, MD, has been elected Professor of Practice in Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine at the University of Turku. She is a distinguished researcher, occupational health physician and teacher of occupational health physicians. The main role of the Professor of Practice is to promote research in occupational health and medicine and to contribute research knowledge to the societal debate.
In early 2024, Suomen Terveystalo Oy decided to donate a part-time, three-year professorship in occupational health and occupational medicine to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Turku. Heidi Furu, MD, Ph.D, Specialist in Occupational Health, was appointed to the position, starting on 1 August 2024.
Focus on strengthening research in occupational health and medicine
Promoting research is one of the most important tasks of the new Professor of Practice. This means not only conducting research, but also creating a research-friendly environment and opening doors for new researchers.
“We desperately need more research and researchers in occupational health and medicine. There is still a lot of unexplored ground in this field. For example, research concerning the effectiveness of occupational health cooperation is essential if we want to improve our operations based on research data. I also hope to get fellow colleagues more interested in occupational medicine. After all, it is the medical core of our profession," says Furu.
Another role of an occupational life professor is to contribute and bring research findings into the societal debate.
Experienced physician, researcher and teacher of occupational physicians
Heidi Furu is an experienced researcher, physician and teacher of occupational health physicians. In addition to her part-time work as professor of practice, she works as a senior advisor at pension insurance company Ilmarinen. Previously, she has worked for a long time at the University of Helsinki and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, and has had a career in occupational health care spanning more than two decades, from grassroots to senior management positions. Furu has a wide network in working life, having consulted both workplaces on strategic work ability management and occupational health service providers on process development.
Furu's research has focused on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of occupational health care, particularly health examinations. She has also studied work ability, the effectiveness of work ability interventions and strategic work ability management. Occupational medicine and occupational diseases are close to Furu, and in his doctoral thesis concerned chronic solvent encephalopathy, an occupational disease seen e.g. in painters and boat builders.
For the good of Finnish working life
The official title of the new professor of working life contains the word “occupational” two times: (professor of practice in occupational health and occupational medicine).
“It is a long and a bit clumsy title, but at least it shows that my work concerns improving work and working life," says Furu. Silja Komulainen, Chief Medical Officer of Corporate & Public Health at Terveystalo agrees, saying that Finnish workers and workplaces will be the main beneficiaries of future scientific cooperation.
More information:
Heidi Furu
Professor of Practice in Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine
MD, Ph.D, Specialist in Occupational Health
University of Turku
heidi.furu@utu.fi
