Danish Regions and Danish Association of Medical Specialists PhD Scholarship

[Competitive funding provided by Danish Regions and Danish Association of Medical Specialists.]

The Department of Political Science and Public Management at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense, is offering a three-year full-time PhD scholarship focused on physician leadership within a healthcare system undergoing significant reforms. This project is funded by Danish Regions and the Danish Association of Medical Specialists, providing competitive financial support for the successful candidate. The PhD is expected to commence on 1 September 2026, or as agreed, with Odense as the place of employment.

The Danish healthcare system is currently experiencing large-scale reforms and new governance arrangements, which emphasize cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration. Hospitals are increasingly expected to adopt hospital-at-home models and strengthen collaboration with primary care and municipal services, aiming for more integrated and coherent patient pathways. These changes present new challenges for leadership roles in hospitals and across the broader healthcare sector, particularly for physician leaders.

The primary aim of this PhD project is to generate new knowledge about physician leadership, including how chief physicians, senior consultants, and other physicians with leadership responsibilities understand, enact, and develop leadership in the context of healthcare reform and its implementation across organizational boundaries. The research will contribute to understanding the evolving roles and expectations of physician leaders as the Danish healthcare system adapts to new models of care and governance.

Applicants must hold a master's degree. For a comprehensive description of entry criteria and the job description for the PhD fellowship, as well as details about the assessment and hiring processes, candidates are encouraged to consult the department’s Scholarly Qualification Matrix – REEAD. The application deadline is 26 April 2026 at 11.59 PM/23.59 (CET/CEST). Applications should be submitted online via the provided application portal.

This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in health policy, leadership, public management, and the intersection of medical practice and organizational change. The scholarship offers competitive funding and the chance to contribute to impactful research in a dynamic and evolving healthcare environment.