Peter F. Hjort
Encyclopedia
Peter Fredrik Holst Hjort (23 March 1924 – 1 January 2011) was a Norwegian professor of medicine and politician for the Labour Party. He is best known for his work to establish the University of Tromsø
, and for his work with public health
.
as a son of barrister and right-wing political figure Johan Bernhard Hjort (1895–1969) and Anna Cathrine Holst (1895–1992). His grandfathers were fisheries director Johan Hjort
and professor of medicine Peter Fredrik Holst. He was a brother of Johan Hjort
and Wanda Hjort Heger
. In 1948 he married Tone Seip (1926–2001), a daughter of academic Didrik Arup Seip
. He spent the years 1998 to 2001 nursing his wife, who had sustained critical brain damage during an operation.
The couple had four children.
his secondary education in 1942. He studied medicine and graduated from the University of Oslo
with the cand.med.
degree in 1950. In the following decade he worked with medicine in Gloppen
, Lillehammer
and at Rikshospitalet
. He also had research fellowships at the University of Oslo as well as a Fulbright Scholarship. He took the dr.med. degree in 1957 and became a specialist in internal medicine
in 1959. He cited his own academic master as being professor Paul Owren. He was hired as assistant physician at Ullevål Hospital in 1960. After being a visiting professor at the University of Southern California
in 1963, he was appointed as docent
of hematology
at the University of Oslo
in 1964 and professor in 1969, being stationed at Rikshospitalet.
In 1969 he was named as interim board chairman of the University of Tromsø
, which was under planning. When the University of Tromsø was finally opened in 1972, Hjort was elected and served as the first rector. He withdrew in 1973, and returned to Oslo. Between 1975 and 1994 he led health research projects in NAVF and the State Institute of Public Health
. In addition to hematology he became an expert in geriatrics
and gerontology
during his career. From 1977 to 1994 he worked part-time as a physician at Ullern Retirement Home, and from 1994 to 2000 he again worked at the University of Tromsø. While working in Oslo he resided in Bærum
and was active in the Labour Party there.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1974, received honorary degree
s at the University of Tromsø (1982), Uppsala University
(1992) and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
(1998), and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
(from 1969) and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
(since 1979). He died on New Year's Day 2011 in Bærum.
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
, and for his work with public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
.
Personal life
He was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as a son of barrister and right-wing political figure Johan Bernhard Hjort (1895–1969) and Anna Cathrine Holst (1895–1992). His grandfathers were fisheries director Johan Hjort
Johan Hjort
Johan Hjort FRS was a Norwegian fisheries scientist, marine zoologist, and oceanographer. He was among the most prominent and influential marine zoologists of his time.- The early years :...
and professor of medicine Peter Fredrik Holst. He was a brother of Johan Hjort
Johan Hjort
Johan Hjort FRS was a Norwegian fisheries scientist, marine zoologist, and oceanographer. He was among the most prominent and influential marine zoologists of his time.- The early years :...
and Wanda Hjort Heger
Wanda Hjort Heger
Wanda Maria Heger is a Norwegian social worker noted for her efforts to help Norwegian and other prisoners in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.- Background :...
. In 1948 he married Tone Seip (1926–2001), a daughter of academic Didrik Arup Seip
Didrik Arup Seip
Didrik Arup Seip was Professor of North Germanic languages at the University of Oslo.He earned his doctorate in 1916 and was appointed professor the same year, retiring in 1954. Together with Herman Jæger, he edited and published the collected works of Henrik Wergeland in 23 volumes...
. He spent the years 1998 to 2001 nursing his wife, who had sustained critical brain damage during an operation.
The couple had four children.
Career
Hjort finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1942. He studied medicine and graduated from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with the cand.med.
Cand.med.
Candidate of Medicine , Candidata Medicinae , abbreviated Cand. Med.) is an academic degree awarded in Denmark, Iceland and Norway following a six-year medical school education....
degree in 1950. In the following decade he worked with medicine in Gloppen
Gloppen
Gloppen is a municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. Gloppen is generally subdivided into three areas: Hyen in the west, Gloppen in the center, and Breim in the east. Each of the areas have their own main service centres. ...
, Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
and at Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet
Rikshospitalet is located in Oslo, Norway. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of Oslo University Hospital....
. He also had research fellowships at the University of Oslo as well as a Fulbright Scholarship. He took the dr.med. degree in 1957 and became a specialist in internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
in 1959. He cited his own academic master as being professor Paul Owren. He was hired as assistant physician at Ullevål Hospital in 1960. After being a visiting professor at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1963, he was appointed as docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
of hematology
Hematology
Hematology, also spelled haematology , is the branch of biology physiology, internal medicine, pathology, clinical laboratory work, and pediatrics that is concerned with the study of blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases...
at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1964 and professor in 1969, being stationed at Rikshospitalet.
In 1969 he was named as interim board chairman of the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
, which was under planning. When the University of Tromsø was finally opened in 1972, Hjort was elected and served as the first rector. He withdrew in 1973, and returned to Oslo. Between 1975 and 1994 he led health research projects in NAVF and the State Institute of Public Health
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health is a subordinate institution to the Ministry of Health and Care Services....
. In addition to hematology he became an expert in geriatrics
Geriatrics
Geriatrics is a sub-specialty of internal medicine and family medicine that focuses on health care of elderly people. It aims to promote health by preventing and treating diseases and disabilities in older adults. There is no set age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or...
and gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
during his career. From 1977 to 1994 he worked part-time as a physician at Ullern Retirement Home, and from 1994 to 2000 he again worked at the University of Tromsø. While working in Oslo he resided in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
and was active in the Labour Party there.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1974, received honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s at the University of Tromsø (1982), Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
(1992) and the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences is a public university located at Sognsvann in Oslo, Norway. It has the national responsibility for education and research related within sport sciences. It provides education at Bachelor, Master and Doctorate level....
(1998), and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
(from 1969) and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
(since 1979). He died on New Year's Day 2011 in Bærum.