By Anna Reetta Rönkä, Anastasia Emelyanova, Christine Ingemann, Gert Mulvad
The Thematic Network on Health and Well-being in the Arctic (TNHW) is one of the four founding University of the Arctic Thematic Networks (UArctic TNs), established in 2005. In 2025, the network proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary. Originally launched as the Thematic Network on Arctic Medicine, it was briefly led by Professor Juhani Hassi from the University of Oulu, Finland, with just a few partners — including the University of Greenland. Later that same year, leadership passed to Professor Arja Rautio, also from the University of Oulu. Since 2017, Dr. Gert Mulvad from the University of Greenland has taken the lead, supported by a growing leadership team. Vice leads have included Anastasia Emelyanova (joined in 2017), Sandra Juutilainen (2017–2018), Anna Reetta Rönkä (joined in 2018), and Christine Ingemann (joined in 2022).
Today, TNHW has grown into a vibrant network of around 40 members, representing 24 partner institutions. Its newsletter — reaching 87 subscribers (number actual by Sept. 2025) — is sent out regularly to share updates on events, conferences, and activities related to UArctic and the Thematic Network.
Circumpolar health is a vital field that explores the unique health challenges and strengths of Arctic and sub-Arctic communities, shaped by geographic isolation, climate change, and cultural transitions. Studying health and well-being in the circumpolar North is essential for building equitable, culturally safe, and sustainable health systems. It also highlights the resilience and knowledge of Indigenous peoples and local communities, offering insights that enrich global health. Increasingly, the field embraces holistic approaches such as One Health — a perspective long embedded in Indigenous worldviews, recognizing the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health.
The circumpolar region is not only a shared environment but also a space of collaboration and mutual learning, where researchers, practitioners, and communities strive to work across disciplines and co-create solutions — an ambition reflected in the spirit of UArctic’s Thematic Networks.
The early goal of the TNHW was to build capacity by offering multidisciplinary education to remote Arctic communities, primarily through online courses. Master's and PhD-level education was also made available, giving people in remote areas the opportunity to update their skills and connect with others in the field. Over time, the network has evolved to respond to the contemporary needs and priorities of Arctic communities. Today, TNHW promotes a multidisciplinary approach to improving social and living conditions, health and well-being, and the delivery of health and social services.
The network’s core mission is to increase both the quantity and quality of scientific research and education on Arctic health and well-being. This is achieved through organizing advanced education and training, conducting collaborative and co-created research projects, and sharing knowledge with a wide range of stakeholders — including local communities.
TNHW’s research and education activities span a wide range of topics relevant to Arctic health and well-being. These include:
While priorities related to topics have evolved over time, the network continues to focus on Indigenous peoples and local communities, women and children, older adults, and environmental health — all studied through a multidisciplinary lens. Today, three sub-groups have emerged to reflect these priority themes, supported in part by the formerly titled Arctic Five alliance (now Arctic Six), including initiatives like the Arctic Five Chair on One Health and Healthy Ageing (2022-2024):
Education has always been at the heart of TNHW’s work.
Since its founding, TNHW and its partners and collaborators from other Arctic networks have delivered over 100 courses, playing a key role in educating professionals from diverse backgrounds in Arctic health and well-being.
Members of the TNHW have played key roles in numerous long-term and high-impact research projects addressing critical Arctic health issues. These include projects such as ArcRisk, CLINF and CLINF-GREEN, PARC, Sámi Reindeer Herders’ Health, EDCMET, Nunataryuk, ILLUQ, ArcSolution, and healthy aging projects like NORRUS-AGE and Nordic AHA Communities, among others.
Beyond project-based work, TNHW leads and members have contributed to influential international efforts, including the Lancet Commission on Arctic and Northern Health, and have actively participated in the Arctic Council’s AMAP and SDWG Human Health expert groups, as well as the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) Health Group. These collaborations reflect the network’s strong commitment to transdisciplinary, cross-border, and community-engaged research that informs both policy and practice.
TNHW members have contributed to several groundbreaking research projects that address pressing health and environmental challenges in the Arctic.
CLINF Project
NUNATARYUK Project
Public Health Surveys in Greenland
TNHW members are actively involved in several new transdisciplinary research initiatives funded under the EU Horizon Zero Pollution call. Two major projects — ArcSolution and ILLUQ — began in 2024 and are grounded in One Health and participatory frameworks. A third sister project, ICEBERG, was also funded through the same call.
In addition, TNHW members are contributing to the Lancet Commission of Arctic Health, a landmark initiative composed primarily of Arctic Indigenous representatives working alongside colleagues from across the region. The Commission aims to identify key health and wellness challenges faced by Indigenous peoples in the Arctic and to develop a roadmap for improving health outcomes through culturally grounded and community-driven approaches.
Read about the project Strengthening Arctic Health Networks through Partnerships and Mentorship (2023–2027), and collaboration with other Thematic Networks here.
Over the past two decades, TNHW has built a strong and visible presence in the field of circumpolar health. The network’s impact is reflected in a wide range of activities — from joint research projects and co-authored publications to regular online and in-person meetings. The work of TN leaders is recognized internationally e.g. Hart Hansen Award 2024 provided to TN Vice-Lead Anastasia Emelyanova. Most recently, the launch of a mentorship program has brought together scholars, practitioners, and students from across the Arctic to exchange knowledge and address current issues in research, practice, and collaboration. All of this is carried out in alignment with UArctic’s core values: being circumpolar, inclusive, respectful, collaborative, open, and influential.
Looking ahead, TNHW has set clear goals for the future. We aim to continue offering educational courses on a regular basis, supported by stable funding. We strive to expand our membership to include scholars, practitioners, and Indigenous and local knowledge holders from diverse backgrounds. Our ambition is to maintain a safe, open, and inclusive environment for all interactions and activities — and we warmly welcome both early-career and senior members to join us.
The ongoing Strengthening Arctic Health Networks project continues to provide valuable insights into how TNHW can deepen collaboration and increase engagement with circumpolar communities and young scholars.
Nunamed conference will be held in Nuuk (Greenland) in October 2025, and TNHW will host a network meeting and reception for networking adjoint.
The next International Congress of Circumpolar Health will be held in Anchorage, US in summer 2027. We welcome all readers to meet fellow TNWH members there!
Contact details:
TNHW lead: Gert Mulvad, Ilisimatusarfik / University of Greenland, gm@peqqik.gl
Vice-lead: Anastasia Emelyanova / University of Oulu, Finland, Anastasia.emelyanova@oulu.fi
Vice-lead: Christine Ingemann / University of Southern Denmark, chin@sdu.dk
Vice-lead: Anna Reetta Rönkä / University of Oulu, Finland, anna.r.ronka@oulu.fi
Photos:
Photo 1: Bi-annual online meeting for TNHW members, 2025.
Photo 2: Master's program in Health and Well-being in the Circumpolar Area: participants and collaborators meeting in 2010 (University of Oulu), Photo by Jaana Orava.
Photo 3: Meeting of Strengthening Arctic Health Networks through Partnerships and Mentorship in Copenhagen, May 2024.
Photo 4: International Circumpolar Health Conference ICCH17 in Copenhagen, 2017. Photo by ICCH17.
