Special award highlights the relationship between citizen and doctor

At the first medical oath ceremony in Esbjerg in June, a new tradition was established: the Erik Münster Award for Humanity in Medicine. The award is named after consultant Erik Münster – known to many as Denmark’s “agony uncle” – who for decades managed to make complex health knowledge understandable and relatable. Even beyond Denmark’s borders, as his advice columns and articles were published in newspapers and magazines across Scandinavia.

Erik Münster was in many ways ahead of his time. He insisted that good medical practice is about relationships – and about having the courage to meet people where they are.

First recipient: a young doctor with a big heart

This was the first cohort of doctors from the regional Master’s programme in medicine to take the medical oath, and thus also the first time the Erik Münster Award was presented. It went to Lisa Uldahl Lambæk, who, with clear communication, empathy, and an eye for the needs of the individual, has made a strong impression on patients, lecturers, and colleagues alike.

The award, which includes an honour and a DKK 20,000 prize, was presented with kind words from Erik Münster’s grandson, Frederik Bloch Münster. He also brought a video greeting and an honorary membership from Erik Münster’s fan club in Bergen – a small but enthusiastic group that has kept his ideas alive far beyond Denmark’s borders.

A reminder of what connects us

Merete Munk, Head of Education and Secretariat at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark, was pleased that the award can remind both young and experienced doctors of the core values in healthcare:

– Specialisation and technology play a crucial role in modern healthcare – but it is the relationship with patients that gives the work meaning. The award is strong proof that high professional standards and human presence are not opposites, but prerequisites for one another, says Merete Munk, Head of Education and Secretariat, Faculty of Health Sciences, SDU.

Anna-Marie Bloch Münster, CEO of Esbjerg Grindsted Hospital – Odense University Hospital and daughter-in-law of Erik Münster, also reflected on the significance of the award’s name.

– Erik was driven by a deep commitment to meeting people with respect and curiosity. It is very moving to see how his values are now inspiring a new generation of doctors.

Inspiring a new generation

The Erik Münster Award is not only a pat on the back, but also an encouragement to hold on to the soft values in the midst of all the professional demands. To remember that empathy, clear communication, and an understanding of vulnerable groups can make a difference – both for the individual patient and for the healthcare system as a whole.