Alumni interview with Alexandra Dahlberg: “My studies at Hanken have been highly beneficial in my work as a doctor and researcher”

In 2018, Dahlberg moved to Bergen, Norway to begin her medical studies. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and social life came to a halt, she started reading economics books in her spare time. Much of it was course literature from Hanken, and in autumn 2020, Dahlberg began studying also at Hanken with finance as her major.

“I felt I lacked a sufficient understanding of mathematics and how the economy works. If I don’t know something, I want to find out, so that’s why I started studying at Hanken as well.”

Dahlberg says it went surprisingly well to study both medicine and business at the same time.

“Because of the pandemic, Hanken offered a lot of remote teaching, which made it possible to study from home in Norway. I spent many weekends studying, of course, but it worked out just fine.”

Published her master’s thesis in a scientific journal

Dahlberg also combined her studies in medicine and business in her master’s thesis at Hanken. In it, she concluded that healthcare initiated digitally - rather than traditionally via phone calls or in-person visits - does not increase later use of healthcare services, and can reduce costs by up to 23 percent in primary care. A study based on her thesis was published in August 2025 in the scientific journal npj Digital Medicine.

“I’ve heard that it’s not very common at Hanken to write a thesis that gets published, but in medicine it’s more established. Since I wrote my thesis for Mehiläinen, I had access to good databases and we had already secured all the necessary research permits. So, publishing the study felt like a natural step.”

Today, Dahlberg works as a research physician at Mehiläinen, where she combines clinical work with research in Mehiläinen’s data science and AI team. But her enthusiasm for studying hasn’t waned, quite the opposite. Alongside her job, Dahlberg is now also a doctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, where she studies how AI can be used to manage patient data. Her curiosity and desire to learn have also led her to begin studies in engineering at Aalto University.

“I discovered programming through courses at Hanken, which led me further into AI. My studies at Hanken have been highly beneficial in my work as a doctor and researcher. I specialise in healthcare administration, where the economic aspect naturally plays a major role.”

Dare to question

Dahlberg offers the same advice to Hanken students today that she herself follows, and which has led her down new academic paths:

“Dare to question and dare to learn. During your studies, there’s a lot you don’t grasp immediately, but if something sparks your interest, it’s worth exploring further. It can lead to unexpected insights and opportunities.”

When Dahlberg isn’t working, researching or studying, she enjoys sailing and skiing.

“Those are my two big passions,” says Dahlberg, who has competed in sailing.

“Right now, of course, work, research and studies take up nearly all my time, but I’ve chosen to also prioritise leisure and self-care. It’s essential to keep going.”

Text: Jessica Gustafsson 
Photo: Gilbert Simons

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