Torbjørn Mork
Encyclopedia
Torbjørn Mork was a Norwegian physician and civil servant.
He was born in Odda
as a son of Guttorm Mork (1897–1974) and Inga Skadsem (1894–1950). He took the examen artium
in 1948 and graduated with the cand.med.
degree from the University of Bergen
in 1954. After working as a physician in Arendal
, Herdla
and Haukeland
, he got a World Health Organization
scholarship to study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 1960 he took the PhD degree there with the thesis A Comparative Study of Respiratory Diseases in England, Wales and Norway. In 1960 he was hired in the Cancer Registry of Norway. He was promoted to assisting chief physician in 1966.
He left the Cancer Registry in 1971 to become State Secretary
in the Ministry of Social Affairs. He represented the Labour Party
, and had been a municipal councilman in Asker
from 1968 to 1975. Reportedly, he was appointed because the Minister of Social Affairs, Odd Højdahl
, had his strengths in general administration, and was lacking in knowledge about social policy. Mork was only State Secretary until 1972, as the first cabinet Bratteli
fell. In 1972, however, he was appointed as director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health
, succeeding the legendary Karl Evang
. Evang himself had made a halfhearted attempt to promote Jon Bjørnsson as successor. Besides Mork, the only likely candidate was Gudmund Harlem
.
Norway went through many reforms during his time as health director. Among others, abortion
was legalized
in 1978. Mork also worked on an international level in the United Nations
and Council of Europe
. He was a member of the executive board of the World Health Organization from 1979 to 1982, from 1980 to 1981 as deputy chair. He was also active in NAVF.
He was married to librarian Anna Brit Schjøtt from 1955 to 1978, and was after that a cohabitant with Wenche Margrethe Myhre. He remained health director until his death in October 1992.
He was born in Odda
Odda
is a municipality and town in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Odda was separated from Ullensvang on 1 July 1913 and on 1 January 1964 Røldal was merged with Odda. The town of Odda is the centre of the landscape of Hardanger, located at the end of the Hardangerfjord.In 1927, Erling Johnson,...
as a son of Guttorm Mork (1897–1974) and Inga Skadsem (1894–1950). He took the examen artium
Examen 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...
in 1948 and graduated 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 from the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
in 1954. After working as a physician in Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
, Herdla
Herdla
Herdla is an island in Askøy, Norway, at the north end of the island of Askøy. The island was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds...
and Haukeland
Haukeland University Hospital
Haukeland University Hospital is a hospital in Bergen, Norway, and one of the 11 institutions that form the Bergen Hospital Trust. The hospital is the largest in Norway in terms of number of patients, and serves as the local hospital of Bergen, Midthordland and Nordhordland, the central hospital of...
, he got a World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
scholarship to study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In 1960 he took the PhD degree there with the thesis A Comparative Study of Respiratory Diseases in England, Wales and Norway. In 1960 he was hired in the Cancer Registry of Norway. He was promoted to assisting chief physician in 1966.
He left the Cancer Registry in 1971 to become State Secretary
State Secretary (Norway)
In Norway, a State Secretary is a partisan political position within the executive branch of government. Contrary to the position Secretary of State in many other countries, the Norwegian State Secretary does not head his or her Ministry, rather, they are second in rank to a Minister...
in the Ministry of Social Affairs. He represented the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
, and had been a municipal councilman in Asker
Asker
Asker is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Viken traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Asker. The municipality is a suburb of Oslo, the national capital...
from 1968 to 1975. Reportedly, he was appointed because the Minister of Social Affairs, Odd Højdahl
Odd Højdahl
Odd Højdahl is a Norwegian trade unionist and politician for the Labour Party.He was born in Oslo.In 1971–1972 he was the Minister of Social Affairs in the first cabinet Bratteli. As an elected politician he served as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo during the...
, had his strengths in general administration, and was lacking in knowledge about social policy. Mork was only State Secretary until 1972, as the first cabinet Bratteli
First cabinet Bratteli
The Bratteli's First Cabinet governed Norway between 17 March 1971 and 18 October 1972. The Labour Party cabinet was led by Trygve Bratteli.On 8 May 1972 there was a cabinet reshuffle...
fell. In 1972, however, he was appointed as director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health
Norwegian Board of Health Supervision
The Norwegian Board of Health Supervision is a national government institution under the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. The name was altered from Norwegian Board of Health on 1 January 2007....
, succeeding the legendary Karl Evang
Karl Evang
Karl Evang was a Norwegian physician and civil servant.He was born in Kristiania as a son of assisting secretary Jens Ingolf Evang and Anna Beate Wexelsen . He was a brother of Vilhelm Evang, and a relative of Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen, Per Kvist and Gunnar Jahn. He met physician Gerda S...
. Evang himself had made a halfhearted attempt to promote Jon Bjørnsson as successor. Besides Mork, the only likely candidate was Gudmund Harlem
Gudmund Harlem
Gudmund Harlem was a Norwegian physician and politician for the Labour Party. He was the Norwegian Minister of Social Affairs from 1955 to 1961 and Norwegian Minister of Defence from 1961 to 1965...
.
Norway went through many reforms during his time as health director. Among others, abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
was legalized
Abortion law
Abortion law is legislation and common law which pertains to the provision of abortion. Abortion has been a controversial subject in many societies through history because of the moral, ethical, practical, and political power issues that surround it. It has been banned frequently and otherwise...
in 1978. Mork also worked on an international level in the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
. He was a member of the executive board of the World Health Organization from 1979 to 1982, from 1980 to 1981 as deputy chair. He was also active in NAVF.
He was married to librarian Anna Brit Schjøtt from 1955 to 1978, and was after that a cohabitant with Wenche Margrethe Myhre. He remained health director until his death in October 1992.