Specialist in Forensic Medicine Asser Hedegård Thomsen’s teaching is a vital part of his work, enhancing his expertise while equipping both future doctors and law enforcement officers with critical knowledge in forensic medicine.

I teach medical students - primarily in forensic medicine but also in anatomy.

It’s rewarding to share my knowledge, and I enjoy the challenge of breaking down complex concepts so that the students can grasp something that might initially seem difficult. For example, explaining how to fill out a death certificate or identifying the characteristics of a knife wound.

It's a good challenge to distil the material into something they can use practically.

My focus is on teaching them the essentials. While many of them won’t work directly with forensic medicine after graduating, there are topics that all doctors should know.

For instance, they might work in an emergency department where they encounter a deceased person or a victim of violence.

I try to incorporate as many practical examples as possible because they are more useful than theory, which students can always read on their own. As a medical student, I often felt that it was hard to see the concrete purpose of some lessons, so I now emphasize making the teaching relevant and applicable.

My impression is that medical students enjoy forensic medicine - it’s an exciting specialty.

I also aim to make the teaching engaging and entertaining because that’s an effective way to help them learn. I use various digital tools in my teaching, such as videos demonstrating what gunshot wounds look like. Student evaluations often reflect that they gain a lot from this approach.

Teaching police officers has a different focus. I work with a diverse group, including patrol officers who are first responders and seasoned detectives handling complex homicide cases.

When teaching the police, I draw on both my research and my daily experience with autopsies

The core content is often similar to what I teach medical students, but it’s tailored to their level of expertise. When I teach students about strangulation, the focus is on medical treatment and documentation.

For police, the focus shifts to recognizing the subtle signs of strangulation, which can be challenging to identify, and ensuring the victim is thoroughly examined.

I appreciate the mix of teaching, research, and public service in my role. Teaching makes me better at my daily work because each time I explain the material, I deepen my own understanding.

Teaching also bears similarities to serving as an expert witness in court, which is another key part of my job. Both involve clear communication and effective presentation.

Each time I teach, I improve my ability to testify in court, as both require conveying complex information in a clear and accessible way.