Ivar Sønbø Kristiansen

Ivar Sønbø Kristiansen is a Professor of Public Health at the Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Norway. He also holds an adjunct professorship in Pharmacoeconomics at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and was a visiting scholar at Stanford Health Policy (2011–2012). His research spans health economics, focusing on health technology assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis, valuation of health outcomes, and risk communication in chronic diseases where time plays a critical role. Affiliated with institutions across Norway, Denmark, and the United States, he has contributed to both academia and public health practice.

Education:

• MD from the University of Oslo (1972)
• MPH from Harvard University (1986)
• PhD from the University of Tromsø (1996)

Research Interests: Kristiansen’s work centers on evaluating healthcare technologies and interventions through cost-effectiveness frameworks, quantifying health outcomes, and improving risk communication strategies, particularly in managing chronic diseases over time. His interdisciplinary approach bridges public health, economics, and clinical decision-making.

Career Highlights: Prior to his academic roles, Kristiansen practiced as a family physician and public health officer in remote Norwegian communities for a decade. He co-founded the Odense Risk Group and served as President of the Norwegian Public Health Association, contributing extensively to national public health committees. At Stanford, his scholarship focused on health policy analysis.