In memory of Knut Espen Aagaard

It is with great sadness and loss that we inform you that Knut Espen Aagaard, together with Dr., chief physician, colleague and dear friend, passed away on November 13, 2023 after a short illness, at the age of only 49 years.

Knut grew up in Flissa, Norway, with his parents Kirsti and Erik and brothers Lars and Finn. His studies took him to Marburg in Germany, and love took him to Helsingborg in Sweden, where Knut is now survived by his wife Malin and two children Agnes and Harald.

As an orthopedic surgeon, Knut's competence, calmness and enthusiasm were highly appreciated by patients and colleagues. He generously shared his ideas with others, and involved many professions in his tireless work to develop shoulder surgery, first as one of the directors behind the Emergency Shoulder Surgery Project, where we developed a systematic and rapid procedure for acute tendon injuries, and then in charge of the Shoulder Department in Helsingborg/Ängelholm.

Last year, we were proud to see Knut proudly defend his thesis on the same topic. The thesis “Trauma-related rotator cuff tears – from the outside in” was named the best thesis of the year by the Swedish Orthopedic Society, an award we are glad Knut had time to experience.

At work, Knut would fly forward in his golden slippers, but also in private he would often walk at high speed. Knut has completed several marathons. He is best remembered for the clinic when he ran the entire Helsingborg Marathon distance faster than the relay team sent by the clinic. That Knut was an optimist at the time is certainly not surprising.

Family, friends and osteopaths lost their shining star too soon, but we take comfort in the fact that there are many of us who can remember Knut together and carry his work forward.