By Torben Haugaard Jensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.
Photo: Lars Horn

He knew it had to come.

You don't read Søren Kierkegaard and eat chocolate frogs at the same time without getting comments.

It wasn't long before a polite lady in the passenger compartment asked Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen if the frogs were for his children. The two things didn't fit together. But as the episode on the train shows, Lars is a man with many facets. 

He has a long career as a senior physician and clinical professor. However, his heart beats just as much for literature, philosophy and history. 

"Sure, I'm a doctor, but I'm also a humanist. If I hadn't studied medicine, I would probably have studied Nordic literature. Everyone should go to book clubs and discuss literature at lunch – especially managers," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen.

For him, knowledge of people is an important quality of a manager, something he acquires by reading literature.

And he needed his people skills when, as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, he entered the health policy battleground.

Keeping a war diary

Throughout all his years as dean, Lars has recorded important work-related things in a notebook – or the war diary, as he calls it. 

The inspiration for the war diary comes from Winston Churchill who kept a diary during World War II while bombs rained down on London.

"A war diary is something you keep in a stressful situation. I felt I was embarking on a rather tough task – to build up a completely new faculty and a new medical programme – so I decided to keep my own war notes about what I was doing and learning," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen.

The writing is always done with a fountain pen, because the slow pace creates calm that leaves room for reflection. 

In his spare time, he also enjoys writing, primarily physical, personal letters to friends and family. He would like to increase his correspondence when he has finished as dean – and to read more literature. 

Literature can do something

As dean, Lars has sat in meetings daily from morning to evening. And when he had a day off, he prepared for next day’s meetings. It didn’t leave much time for leisure activities.

Still, he never abandoned his passion for reading. Søren Kierkegaard. Marcel Proust. H.C. Andersen. Thomas Mann and Karl Ove Knausgård are waiting on the shelf. 

Literature has taught him a lot about the world, beyond the purely academic and medical professions. For example, literature has helped greatly when he has had to make strategic management decisions.  

"There is no one sharper at analyzing society than authors. Literature creates a greater understanding of how we humans interact with each other. Reading has given me so much, both at work and in my personal life," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen. 

He also fulfils his need to understand the world by reading no less than five newspapers a day: Kristeligt Dagblad, Politiken, Nordjyske, Berlingske and Weekendavisen. 

And when he steps down as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine after ten years, he is looking forward to having more time to nurture his intellect.

Fine with leaving the post

The academic route was not necessarily in the cards for Lars. He is the first in his family to pass the upper secondary school exam, and very grateful that society unexpectedly gave him his educational opportunities.

Professionally, he wants to be at the centre. But personally, he’s a humble type who doesn’t relish the spotlight. Still, he dares to say that he has had a stellar career.

But he won’t miss research and university policy work, because he has passed the test.

I usually tease the rector that I helped create a small faculty with big impact. Like a gardener who has made something grow – in my case, strong research and learning environments. I think I can hand over a reputable faculty in good shape. I feel good about that," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen.

When he stops as dean, he’ll do things like play chess, golf and travel around Europe – as well as get more exercise. 

He’ll need the energy because he’s not letting go of AAU completely.

Continues as advisor to the rector

Lars' contract actually expired a year and a half ago, but when the rector asked him to continue, he accepted. 

So he’s keeping his work gloves on and will advise the rector on health policy issues until March 2026. 

"It will be a very nice phase-out – from full power to something less labour-intensive, but still really exciting," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen.

Many have asked Lars how it will affect his identity when he is no longer a university dean.

Basically, it won’t be a big change, he believes. Because one thing will always be the same. 

"I'm a doctor, and I always will be. If I introduce myself as dean, someone thinks I'm the kind of person who makes sure that people don't tamper with the paintings in a museum. If I say that I’m a doctor, they can relate to that better – and maybe they ask if their blood pressure is too high or if they have some disease," says Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen.

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs