Tollak B. Sirnes
Encyclopedia
Tollak Bakke Sirnes was a Norwegian physician, psychiatrist and pharmacologist.
Sirnes was born in Haugesund
, and had eleven siblings of whom ten were older. He finished
his secondary education in Haugesund in 1942. He then enrolled at the University of Oslo
. This was during World War II
, and Sirnes was arrested by the German
occupation force following the 28 November 1943 university fire
in Oslo. Of a total of 1,166 students arrested, 644 were sent to Germany for "readjustment". Sirnes was imprisoned in Buchenwald
and Neuengamme concentration camps, but survived and was released at the war's end.
He returned to Norway, graduated from the University of Oslo with the cand.med. degree in 1950 and worked as a research assistant
until 1954. He also married in July 1950. In 1954 he took the dr.med. degree with the thesis Some Effects of Barbiturate Derivatives on the Function of the Mammalian Sceletal Muscle. He worked as a physician in Mandal from 1954 to 1955, at Ullevål Hospital
from 1955 to 1958 and at Dikemark Hospital from 1958 to 1963. In 1962 he qualified as a specialist in psychiatry
. He was appointed professor of pharmacology
at the University of Bergen
in 1963. He remained here until 1992, and was also chief physician at Haukeland Hospital
from 1972 to 1979, dean
from 1973 to 1975 and deputy rector in 1975. Sirnes edited Sinnets Helse from 1960 to 1962 and Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica Scandinavica from 1963 to 1981, and worked in the staff of Tidsskrift for Den norske lægeforening
until 1985. Sirnes also contributed to popular science
, and won a popular science award from NAVF in 1976. He was inspired by the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard
, and his Christian views marked his authorship.
He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1994. He lived in Årstad, Bergen, and died in his home in October 2009.
Sirnes was born in Haugesund
Haugesund
is a town and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.-Location:Haugesund was separated from Torvastad as a town and municipality of its own in 1855. The rural municipality of Skåre was merged with Haugesund on January 1, 1958. Haugesund is a small municipality, only 73 km²...
, and had eleven siblings of whom ten were older. He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in Haugesund in 1942. He then enrolled at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. This was during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and Sirnes was arrested by the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation force following the 28 November 1943 university fire
1943 University of Oslo fire
The 1943 University of Oslo fire was a fire in the ceremony hall of the University of Oslo in 1943. Its direct consequenses were the closing of the university, and the arrest of 1,166 people; mainly male students. Of these, 644 were sent to German "readjustment" camps, where 17 people died...
in Oslo. Of a total of 1,166 students arrested, 644 were sent to Germany for "readjustment". Sirnes was imprisoned in Buchenwald
Buchenwald concentration camp
Buchenwald concentration camp was a German Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937, one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps on German soil.Camp prisoners from all over Europe and Russia—Jews, non-Jewish Poles and Slovenes,...
and Neuengamme concentration camps, but survived and was released at the war's end.
He returned to Norway, graduated from the University of Oslo with the cand.med. degree in 1950 and worked as a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
until 1954. He also married in July 1950. In 1954 he took the dr.med. degree with the thesis Some Effects of Barbiturate Derivatives on the Function of the Mammalian Sceletal Muscle. He worked as a physician in Mandal from 1954 to 1955, at Ullevål Hospital
Ullevål University Hospital
Ullevaal, Oslo University Hospital was opened in 1887. From January 1, 2009, the hospital is part of the Oslo University Hospital.Ullevål has more than 8,600 employees. 940 of them are doctors and 2,400 nurses. With a total of 1,200 beds Ullevål, admits some 45,000 patients per year and its...
from 1955 to 1958 and at Dikemark Hospital from 1958 to 1963. In 1962 he qualified as a specialist in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. He was appointed professor of pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
in 1963. He remained here until 1992, and was also chief physician at Haukeland Hospital
Haukeland University Hospital
Haukeland University Hospital is a hospital in Bergen, Norway, and one of the 11 institutions that form the Bergen Hospital Trust. The hospital is the largest in Norway in terms of number of patients, and serves as the local hospital of Bergen, Midthordland and Nordhordland, the central hospital of...
from 1972 to 1979, dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
from 1973 to 1975 and deputy rector in 1975. Sirnes edited Sinnets Helse from 1960 to 1962 and Acta Pharmacologica et Toxicologica Scandinavica from 1963 to 1981, and worked in the staff of Tidsskrift for Den norske lægeforening
Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association
The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association was founded in 1881, five years before the Norwegian Medical Association was established, as the Tidsskrift for praktisk Medicin. The journal changed names in 1888 to Organ for Den norske lægeforening before obtaining its current name in 1890...
until 1985. Sirnes also contributed to popular science
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
, and won a popular science award from NAVF in 1976. He was inspired by the philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Kierkegaard
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard was a Danish Christian philosopher, theologian and religious author. He was a critic of idealist intellectuals and philosophers of his time, such as Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling and Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel...
, and his Christian views marked his authorship.
He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1994. He lived in Årstad, Bergen, and died in his home in October 2009.