Elín Freyja Hauksdóttir is the Chief Physician of the Health Care Center of the Health Institute of South Iceland in Höfn in Hornafjörður. We visited Elín Freyja and asked her about her job and workplace, as well as her background, family situation, and life after work. It turns out that our interviewee is a Reykjavík resident who worked in colorful projects in her teens, such as grayling fishing, kindergartens, and an aluminum smelter, but then studied medicine in Copenhagen. Since returning home in 2012, she has worked for almost thirteen successful years as a doctor in Höfn. Elín Freyja tells us about her experiences here and, along the way, offers some key points for doctors in rural areas.

THIRTEEN YEARS OF FUN IN HÖFN
,,I was born at Landspítali on October 22, 1981, and grew up in Reykjavík. I graduated from the college Menntaskólinn við Sund, and then moved to Copenhagen in 2003 to begin my medical studies. After completing my undergraduate and master’s degrees, we moved back to Iceland in 2012. When we got home, I got a job at the emergency room at Landspítali in Fossvogur and stayed there for six months. It was a great way to get to know the Icelandic healthcare system and regain my grasp of the language after almost a decade abroad. My medical education was all in Danish, so I felt rather speechless professionally at first. In the fall of 2012, we moved east to Höfn, where I have worked ever since.”

A FISHERMAN WHO INTENDED TO BE AN ENGINEER
We inquired about his previous jobs in the usual way. "Before medicine, I tried working in various fields and was always working after high school. For example, I went to sea at the age of 12 and was a fisherman on Breiðafjörður. I worked there for 4 summers, which was an amazing time. I also worked at the aluminum plant in Straumsvík, at a kindergarten, delivered mail, handled deliveries at Intersport, and was a paramedic up in Skálafell at the ski resort. I then worked in an engineering office laboratory for a year after my matriculation exam when I thought I was going to be an engineer."

A VARIETY AND DEMANDING JOB
We then inquired about the interviewee's job. "The working days of doctors in rural areas can be incredibly complex and demanding, but they are also diverse and lively at the same time. The main part of my job is to be a family doctor who takes care of people of all ages, from cradle to grave. Other tasks are emergency cases, and that part of my work is, unfortunately, growing rapidly. Both acute illnesses and minor accidents that people seek out our health care themselves, but also life-threatening illnesses and larger accidents where a doctor has to take an ambulance to the scene. Due to the large increase in tourism and traffic in the area, which often has dangerous driving conditions, there have been quite a few major traffic accidents where a group accident plan is activated. Other tasks of mine include taking care of the nursing home and its residents. We also have three hospital rooms for shorter and simpler admissions, which do not require other specialist services.”

PANDEMIC AND GROUP INFECTIONS
,,In addition, I am the district physician for infectious diseases in South Iceland and have dealt with projects such as the Covid pandemic and group infections in the highlands of South Iceland. The chief physician here also always has to spend a lot of time on the computer to staff medical positions and handle various other administrative tasks related to the operation of the health care system.”

GREAT HUMAN RESOURCES
Elín Freyja is thrilled with the staff at HSU in Höfn. ,,We have a great team here! Four nurses, a midwife, a paramedic, a physiotherapist, a property manager, a health data scientist, and another future health data scientist, who is the current receptionist. In addition, we have a strong group of ambulance personnel. I find it invaluable to work with such a strong group of people. Everyone contributes to making healthcare the best it can be."

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT THE WORKPLACE?
,,The best thing about my workplace is the people I work with. The collaboration is outstanding, and we always work together as a whole. We try to make the most of each person's abilities. For example, we use the strengths of medical staff and nurses to relieve the work of doctors, who can then see more patients. The flow is good, communication is exemplary, and the work atmosphere is excellent."

PASSION FOR THE PROFESSION IS IMPORTANT
What would you say is the key to well-being in your job as a doctor in rural Iceland? ,,Adaptability, willingness to collaborate, and passion for the profession are key factors for us who practice medicine in rural Iceland. The diversity of the work and good colleagues make every working day exciting. Lifelong learning and the fear of stagnation also keep me on my toes. For example, holding monthly educational evenings for colleagues helps me remember and maintain important skills, strengthens others in their skills, improves communication between us, and increases the self-confidence of the staff. These evenings are also usually just a lot of fun! I have to call it common sense, often being the only doctor in the area, to train other healthcare professionals here in Höfn well, if the situation arises that I will be the one who needs the service.”

GOOD WORK-LIFE BALANCE
We twist our poems and ask how Elín Freyja and her husband manage to create a balance between work and private life. ,,My husband, Baldvin Guðlaugsson, is a part-time ambulance driver and currently works from home. Two years ago, he decided to close his barbershop here in Höfn to focus on the home and our children, who are now 11 and 17 years old. This change was amazing for both of us and the family. The best decision we have ever made. It relieved the pressure on both of us, as he took on a large part of the daily household tasks that were not waiting for us after work. This has given us both more freedom to pursue our hobbies and spend more quality time with our family.”

TRAVELLING OUTDOOR PEOPLE WITH A HUNTING PASSION
What is life like after work? "My husband and I have many common interests and do almost everything together. Our main problems are lack of time and work. One of us is usually on duty. We love traveling, whether it's domestically or internationally. We snowmobile, cross-country ski, mountain ski, and snowboard. We have also got an electric mountain bike, which has opened up new dimensions for us. We also love mountaineering, both domestically and internationally. We also do shooting, Baldvin more than me, as he finds it a little easier to run away from work. We got a hunting dog last spring and are now impatiently waiting for the bitch to grow up and become properly usable."

COZY MOMENTS AT HOME ARE IMPORTANT
"Life in the countryside is, of course, very close to the forces of nature and therefore creates unique opportunities for outdoor activities. But we also think it is important to have cozy moments at home. I love planning big trips, whether domestically or internationally, and always have to have at least one such trip planned. I use such projects to relax, look forward to, and get through stressful times at work. Regular exercise has also proven to be a great antidote to stress for me, and it’s no worse to be able to be a good role model in society.”

FIRST AID COURSE INITIATED THE MEDICAL BACTERIA
We look back to the past and ask why Elín Freyja chose a career as a doctor. ,,I somehow never saw myself in anything else. I started in a rescue team at the age of 16-17, and there I quickly saw that first aid was a good fit for me. After a week-long course entitled First Aid in the Wilderness in early 2003, there was no turning back. I came home from the course and immediately started working on an application to a medical school. Copenhagen was chosen because the studies there are free, and I had a Danish matriculation exam. I had also always wanted to go to Denmark. However, when I got there, I quickly discovered that the Danish taught in Iceland was not good enough in Denmark!”

EITHER CARPENTER OR ELECTRICIAN…
But if she had to choose a new career today? ,,Then I would probably go work as a carpenter or an electrician. We built our house four years ago, and it was great fun.”