Katarina Svanberg

	Katarina Svanberg Associate Professor of Oncology, Chief Oncologist and Director, Lund University Medical Laser Centre, Department of Oncology, Lund University Hospital Country of origin: Sweden
Katarina Svanberg together with African colleagues treating a patient with Photodynamic Therapy in Dakar, Senegal with a Swedish/African network for developing countries

My professional activity involves people, either as hospital patients of as university students and colleagues. I have worked with well-known scientists, with skilled engineers, and business professionals. In my research, I have been fortunate to bring our scientific findings directly into the clinic to benefit many patients. Being a cancer doctor requires empathy and mental stability, but also human understanding, warmth, and personal insight. Although to some it may seem hopeless, new modalities enable us to deliver full cure treatment to at least 50% of the patients. My research in spectroscopy and optics for medical applications gives me so much inspiration and also a break from clinical activity. As a physician, I can easily identify the medical challenges, and I hope our interdisciplinary work can bring solutions to problems. I have seen how integration and understanding between professions can be fruitful, as it has been in optical engineering, including medical applications for developing countries. The opportunities I have had to travel worldwide and meet people in many countries is something I could never have dreamt of as a young girl in a small city far away from higher education and academic professions.