Dorte Melgaard Kristiansen

Dr. Dorte Melgaard Kristiansen is an Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at Aalborg University Hospital's Department of Clinical Medicine, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine. Her work focuses on interdisciplinary clinical research addressing dysphagia in older adults and frail populations, with a strong emphasis on geriatrics, rehabilitation, and patient-centered care. She has pioneered interventions to integrate early screening for oropharyngeal dysphagia into clinical practice.

Her research bridges gaps between hospitals, rehabilitation units, and municipal health services, ensuring practical applicability of evidence-based strategies. She collaborates internationally to enhance comparative approaches in aging and dysphagia care, contributing to globally transferable solutions.

Key achievements include developing a screening intervention for hospitalized geriatric patients and winning the 2024 Idépris (Idea Prize) for a palliative care concept enabling vulnerable elderly to die at home. Her work is published in high-impact journals and has been featured in media for innovations in dysphagia and geriatric care.

• Research Focus: Dysphagia, geriatric care transitions, frailty, and interdisciplinary care pathways
• Awards: Idépris (2024) for palliative care innovation
• Collaborations: International networks in aging and rehabilitation research