Clinical Chair Professor steps down to make room for new pediatric Chief Physician

Søren Rittig, who for 12 years has served as the Clinical Chair Professor for the pediatric area at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), has chosen to resign from his position. This decision comes as Aarhus University Hospital has chosen to hire his spouse, Charlotte Rittig, as the new Chief Physician for the Department of Children and Adolescents.

Søren Rittig will continue to be a part of the department as a Clinical Professor. At the same time, he will take on the role of Program Director for the upcoming Children and Adolescents Hospital at AUH.

As Clinical Chair Professor, he has been one of the leading forces for the department, significantly contributing to elevating the department's international research profile.

Regarding his decision to step down from the position of Chair Professor, Søren Rittig states:

"In connection with the recruitment process for a new Chief Physician for the department, it became clear to me that if Charlotte were considered for the Chief Physician position at AUH, it would be necessary for me to step back from my job as Chair Professor, as it is not sustainable for a married couple to be part of the department's management. Therefore, I have chosen to step down from my position as Chair Professor and am now looking forward to focusing on research in pediatric nephrology as a Clinical Professor while continuing to support the positive research environment in the department."

Charlotte Rittig will take over as Chief Physician for the department starting December 1st. The management of the Department of Clinical Medicine and AUH's hospital management will now collaborate to initiate a process to quickly find an acting research leader for pediatrics and will announce this as soon as possible.