Expertise as a social welfare and healthcare nerd takes you a long way
Social welfare and healthcare nerd. That is the expression Nico Vehmas, Chief Senior Specialist at the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County, would use to describe himself. Parallel to his daytime work, Nico is studying to become a medical specialist in healthcare and working at the same time on his doctoral thesis. Strong will is a quality promoting gender equality in social welfare and healthcare services that drives the young doctor onwards.
– Everything you do and learn will be useful in the future, Nico Vehmas summarises his outlook on life.
In addition to medicine, Nico has always been interested in politics and communications. His career path to a chief senior specialist includes quite a few highlights.
During his years at the university, he worked, among other things, as the editor-in-chief of the magazine published by the student association of the Faculty of Medicine, musical theatre actor and entrepreneur. Nico obtained his medical degree at the University of Helsinki in 2018, and he specialises now to become a medical specialist in healthcare.
Before and after graduating, Nico worked as a health centre physician and at the accident and emergency services. While working, he tried to figure out in which direction to develop his career.
His interest in communications and politics drove him to wonder how he could take advantage of his expertise in medicine and, at the same time, take part in societal debate. Nico first ended up at a Finnish consulting firm in the social and healthcare sector, where he deepened his knowledge in service design. Later, his interest specifically in public social and healthcare services and their development began to grow.
After many stages, Nico started working in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County in August 2022, just before the social and healthcare reform came into effect.
– I have always enjoyed working on rapidly changing and evolving topics. My current work at the wellbeing services county offers me these challenges every single day.
Nico’s job as a chief senior specialist at the wellbeing services county is extremely diverse. His tasks include preparation of significant packages of decisions for political decision-making and the executive group of the wellbeing services county. He is also responsible for the inclusion programme and climate programme of the wellbeing services county. Nico has also made his mark on the development of the service network. Through his work, he has the possibility to contribute to shaping the newly established wellbeing services county.
– The best aspect is to work with quite a few different kinds of professionals. I enjoy my work!
Promoter of gender equality
Nico specialised in gynaecology for two years. However, he decided last autumn to change his field of specialisation and become a medical specialist in healthcare. In his work both as a physician and with strategic documents, Nico has benefited from his expertise in different domains.
His previous work experience in consultancy and communications has prepared him for his duties as chief senior specialist. My years as an actor in a university musical taught me how to boldly throw myself into things and live in the moment.
– Acting, improvisation and other lessons I learnt as an actor have influenced quite a lot what kind of a doctor I have become.
Nico has set ambitious goals for his work in the healthcare and social welfare sector. In the future, he wishes to examine the entire social and healthcare system from a wider perspective at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
Outside his working hours, Nico is preparing his doctoral thesis in adolescent gynaecology on safety of hormone therapy in the gender reassignment process.
Recently, he has spent some time on another research project, concentrating on hidden gender disparities in healthcare service systems and treatment guidelines. According to Nico, quite a few service systems and treatment guidelines in healthcare favour men for historical reasons.
– I enjoy working on topics with great societal impact. Gender equality is an extremely dear topic to me.
Nico feels that his work profile is quite unique. He is grateful to be able to put his knowledge and field of interest to use while working at the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
– I think the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County is a pioneer compared to other wellbeing services counties in Finland, and we carry out high-quality work.