New head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at SDU

Simon Kjær Hermansen, MSc and PhD, has been appointed acting head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at SDU for the coming year. Since 2024, Simon has served as head of the Forensic Chemistry Section at the department, focusing on strategic development, scientific culture and a shared sense of ownership among colleagues in task execution.

The new acting head of department has a strong background in both research and practice. He has been employed at the department since 2018 and has primarily worked on method development and optimisation of forensic chemical analyses – as well as defining clear long- and short-term goals for the section, with knowledge, transparency and trust as central values.

Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ole Skøtt, is pleased that Simon has agreed to take on the role:

– Peter Leth has led the department for 10 years, and we have greatly appreciated his expertise and leadership. With Simon’s appointment, we are fully confident that the department is in excellent hands.

Simon Kjær Hermansen is also an active researcher with experience from academia, the healthcare sector and industry. He has worked at Novo Nordisk, among others, and has published internationally in both forensic medicine and neuro-oncology.

Succeeding an experienced leader

Simon takes over from 69-year-old Peter Leth, who has headed the department since 2015 and has played a key role in developing the Department of Forensic Medicine into a prominent research and teaching unit with close links to practice.

Peter Leth will continue at the department as a full-time chief forensic pathologist and professor, and will remain a valuable contributor with his broad professional experience and insight into forensic medical practice and digital forensic medicine for about a year.