Espen Rostrup Nakstad | |
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Born | 1975 (age 48–49) |
Nationality | Norwegian |
Alma mater | University of Oslo |
Occupation(s) | Physician, lawyer author |
Known for | Response to the COVID-19 pandemic |
Espen Rostrup Nakstad (born 1975) is a Norwegian physician, lawyer and author from Skjetten who is the current assistant director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs.
Nakstad earned a Doctorate in medicine from the University of Oslo and is specialized in respiratory disease and internal medicine. In 2018 he issued a book on disaster preparedness together with Bjørn Bjelland, Beredskap, kriseledelse og praktisk skadestedsarbeid. He leads the CBRNE Centre at Ullevål Hospital/ Oslo University Hospital. [1] Among others, he led Ullevål Hospital's response when a Norwegian citizen affected by the 2014 ebola outbreak was flown home to Norway. [2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire leadership of the Norwegian Directorate of Health was quarantined, and Nakstad was brought in as acting assistant director on 14 March 2020. [3] His Norwegian work title was shortened to "fung.ass." (lit. "funct[ioning] ass[istant] director"), which became a popular moniker when referring to Nakstad on social media. [4] He was praised for his communication skills in several crisis briefings, especially his espousing security and "stoic calmness". [1] [2]
A twin, Nakstad lost his twin brother in a helicopter crash in 2014. [1] He is a nephew of Morten Rostrup of the Doctors Without Borders. [2]