Melissa C. Lutterodt

Melissa C. Lutterodt is an Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Public Health, Section of General Practice. She holds qualifications as a General Practitioner, has a Ph.D., and is also a Medical Doctor. Her work focuses on medical education and research in general practice.

Education:

• General Practitioner, University of Copenhagen (2018)
• University Pedagogy, University of Copenhagen (2016)
• Ph.D., University of Copenhagen (2009)
• MD, University of Copenhagen (2004)

Melissa C. Lutterodt's primary research interests focus on the development of pre-graduate and post-graduate education in General Practice. She is particularly interested in optimizing teaching methods both clinical and theoretical as well as pedagogical approaches. For many years, her research centered on pregnancy, pregnant women, fertility and children, and she remains involved in this area. She is currently engaged in research collaboration on the Interpreter Act, working with the Center for Research and Education in General Medicine and the Research Center for Migration, Ethnicity and Health. She also contributes to research projects concerning pregnant women in general practice and children's mental health through the Family Wellbeing Project, and is involved in a study on doctor's empathy towards patients led by Dr. Kaisu Koski from Tampere University, Finland.

Her recent publications (2020-2024) show a strong focus on two main areas: pregnancy and women's health, and language barriers in healthcare. In the pregnancy research domain, she has conducted studies on pregnancy-related pain, maternal-fetal relationships, selection bias in pregnancy research, and sleep complaints during early pregnancy. In the language barriers domain, her work examines healthcare encounters without interpreters, general practitioners' experiences with foreign language patients, and the consequences of the Interpreter Act. These publications reflect her dual expertise in obstetrics/gynecology and healthcare communication across cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Scientific Contributions:

• 23 total research outputs including journal articles, conference abstracts, and a Ph.D. thesis
• Active collaborations with researchers across Denmark and internationally
• Work featured in prominent journals including BMC series, Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, and International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

Melissa C. Lutterodt is actively involved in teaching medical students at multiple levels, including Early Patient Contact (1st semester), the Main course in General Practice (6th semester), and as a supervisor for Bachelor and Master students. She also serves as a postgraduate lecturer on the 'Research training' course for doctors during their specialization and as a clinical supervisor for medical students in general practice. Her external position as a General Practitioner complements her academic work, providing real-world context for her teaching and research.

Her work bridges clinical practice, medical education, and research, with a particular emphasis on improving healthcare delivery for diverse patient populations and enhancing medical training in general practice settings.