Are you up for an exciting and unconventional leadership role in a hospital ward with high professional standards and complex patient pathways?

• If you can say yes to that, and you are either a specialist in orthopedic surgery, general medicine, or an internal medical specialty, you could be the future leading Chief Physician at the Orthopedic Surgery Department, OUH.
• Then you should, whether you are a specialist in orthopedic surgery, general medicine, or an internal medical specialty, look to the Orthopedic Surgery Department, OUH.

We are seeking a leading Chief Physician with responsibility for operations, development and strong patient pathways for our inpatient ward in Odense. Whether you are a specialist in orthopedic surgery, general medicine or an internal medical specialty, we are open to it. The most important is that you have a desire to take on a leadership role in a diverse and complex inpatient ward.

As part of strengthening the department's leadership structure we are establishing joint leadership between leading Chief Physicians and head nurses.

We have hired three new leading Chief Physicians with responsibility for respectively outpatient care, the operating room and the matriklen site in Svendborg, but we are seeking an engaged leading Chief Physician who, in a combined clinical- and managerial role, will help drive and develop the department's inpatient ward in Odense, in close collaboration with the head nurse and the rest of the management team.

Do you want to help shape the future of orthopedic surgery – and take the next step into leadership?

Do you have ambitions to create development, ensure efficient operation and strengthen patient pathways in a professionally strong and complex department? Have you already shown that you can lead change and patient pathways?

So we offer an attractive leadership opportunity in the Orthopedic Department O at OUH.

We are ready to go new ways, and see opportunities in that the upcoming leading Chief Physician is not a specialist in orthopedic surgery. Many of our patients are multimorbid, and a medical or general medical focus on patient pathways we see as an opportunity to rethink and improve our patient pathways.

From a leadership perspective, the other management team will be able to support with the orthopedic-surgical perspective on patient – and treatment pathways.

We are one of the country’s largest orthopedic departments and treat patients at main function, regional function and highly specialized levels. The department covers all orthopedic surgical fields and is characterized by high professionalism, strong cross-disciplinary collaboration and a continuous focus on development.

About the position

As a leading Chief Physician you will join a close peer leadership with the head nurses and share a joint responsibility for leadership, operations and development of the ward. Together you will set direction, deliver results and ensure high quality in patient care.

Our inpatient ward comprises a broad range of orthopedic surgical areas. There are elective and acute patients, short and long pathways, complex infection patients and highly specialized regional – and national function patients.

The inpatient ward has, in recent years, undergone several structural changes, and in its current form is the result of a merger of three separate inpatient wards, each with its own professional focus. This has been done in preparation for the new OUH.

You will play a central role in translating the department's strategic goals into concrete results in everyday operations. This includes responsibility for capacity management, patient flow, prioritization of resources, quality development and implementation of new workflows. At the same time you are expected to be a visible and approachable leader who can create followers, support staff development and contribute to strong interdisciplinary collaboration.

As a leading Chief Physician you will be part of the department's newly established leadership group structure, and you will influence cross-cutting decisions and the overall development of Orthopedic Department O. You will also participate in the department's strategic leadership work, where the focus includes preparation for the New OUH, development of patient pathways and continued strengthening of the department's professional position.

The position is primarily clinical, but with dedicated time for the leadership task. If you are not a specialist in orthopedic surgery, the clinical work will lie in the inpatient ward.

We therefore seek a specialist who wishes to maintain their clinical activity and at the same time is motivated to take a clear leadership responsibility.

Since this is a newly created function, you will have a unique opportunity to help define the role and leave your mark on the future leadership structure in the department.

About the department

The Orthopedic Department O is a university department where the patient comes first with a background in professional quality, research and development. The department has functions at main, regional, highly specialized and national function levels and is centrally located in OUH's trauma center function.

The department's doctors participate in the orthopedic on-call service in FAM. There are several well-established research laboratories (bone/cartilage laboratory, stereoradiography laboratory and gait analysis laboratory), and the Accident Analysis Group is also part of the department.

Internally, the department has a tradition of good collaboration between the sectors. We strive for a good tone and a good working environment and rely on everyone contributing to the community. The department consists of a unit in Odense and one in Svendborg. There is also collaboration with Sygehus Lillebælt, Kolding and the Rigshospitalet.

See more about OUH and the Orthopedic Department here .

Application, interview and employment terms

The application is motivated and allocated in relation to the seven competence areas.

The application must be accompanied by a CV, documentation of authorization, specialist recognition and any post- and ongoing education.

Salary and employment terms

The salary and employment terms for the position follow the agreement for medical chiefs 22.04.01. The starting salary for the position can be found via the following link: Starting salary for positions in Region Syddanmark

In addition to the starting salary, the pay can include negotiated allowances depending on the position, your experience and qualifications.

This is a full-time position of 37 hours/week.

The position is expected to be filled from December 1, 2026 or by individual agreement.

Application deadline October 25, 2026.

Interviews will be held on October 28, 2026.

Further information from

Chief Physician Bertel Understrup tel. 2965 9531. Email: [email protected]

Chief Nurse Malene Mink Kristensen tel. 2162 0629. Email: [email protected]

Department: Orthopedic Department O, Odense-Svendborg

Job title: Leading Chief Physician

Working hours: 37

Workplace: Odense

Application deadline: 25-10-2026

Application deadline: 30 October 2026