Background
From dentist to healthcare developer
I develop healthcare and the use of AI at the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia (Pohde), where I work as an advisory dentist. Before that, I was Head of Oral Healthcare and Chief Dental Officer. I give training sessions and talks on adopting AI for healthcare leaders and professionals. I am also a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu and a delegate of the Finnish Dental Association.
I began my process engineering studies at the University of Oulu in 2011. Two years on the technical side taught me to see the big picture and understand the logic of systems. These skills have proved surprisingly valuable in an entirely different field.
Dentistry, however, won me over. Clinical work taught me to understand the daily reality of patient care and its real bottlenecks. In leadership roles, I learned that even the best systems don't work without people who are committed to them.
Now I combine these three perspectives in my work as a healthcare developer. In practice, this means building care pathways, data-driven management, and ensuring that scarce resources are directed where they are needed the most.
Timeline
Along the way
- 2011
Process Engineering studies
University of Oulu. Systems thinking and technical understanding.
- 2013
Dentistry studies
University of Oulu. Clinical work and the daily reality of patient care.
- 2019
Licentiate of Dentistry
Graduation and the start of a clinical career.
- 2020
Chief Dentist, Tyrnävä
Clinical leadership and day-to-day management.
- 2023
Head of Oral Healthcare and Chief Dental Officer, Pohde
Operational management of oral healthcare across three regions.
- 2024
Head of Unit, Pohde
Duties of chief dentist and data and development specialist.
- 2024
Specialist qualification in product development
Deepening product development expertise.
- 2025
Chief dentist special competence
Special competence for the chief dentist role.
- 2026
Specialist qualification in management and business leadership
Deepening leadership expertise.
- Now
Advisory Dentist, Development and AI, Pohde
AI projects and solution-focused work supervision studies.
Work experience
Work experience
–present
Advisory Dentist, Development and AI
Pohde, Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia
Oral healthcare development, workforce planning and AI projects.
–
Head of Unit
Pohde, Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia
Duties of chief dentist and data and development specialist.
–
Head of Oral Healthcare, Chief Dental Officer
Pohde, Koillismaa, Oulunkaari and Lakeus
Operational management and service organization of oral healthcare.
–
Chief Dentist
Municipality of Tyrnävä
Clinical leadership and day-to-day management.
–
Private Dentist
Pihlajalinna, Oulu
Clinical patient care in a private practice.
–
Public Health Dentist
Multiple municipalities in North Ostrobothnia and Lapland
Clinical patient care in public healthcare.
Education
Education
Completed
- Licentiate of Dentistry (DDS), University of Oulu
- Chief Dentist special competence
- Specialist qualification in management and business leadership (JYET)
- Specialist qualification in product development (TKEAT)
- Process engineering studies, University of Oulu (2011–2013)
Ongoing
- Solution-focused work supervision, University of Oulu (2025–2027)
- Special competence in healthcare IT
Positions of trust
Elected and association roles
Current
- Finnish Dental Association delegate, 2nd term
- Member of the Health Policy Committee, Finnish Dental Association
- Technical Secretary, Finnish Society of Telemedicine and eHealth
Previous
- Student member of the Board, Finnish Dental Association
- Board member, Oulu Dental Society
Publications
Publications
2026 Digital Health and Wireless Solutions, Springer CCIS, 172–176
Establishing an AI Competence Center in a Public Healthcare Organization: A Multidisciplinary Learning Pathway
Alalääkkölä T, Keränen A, Kokko J et al.
View publication2026 Digital Health and Wireless Solutions, Springer CCIS, 644–647
AI-Assisted Documentation in Social Welfare Services: Insights from a Pilot Conducted in the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia
Korhonen N, Reponen J, Alalääkkölä T, Keränen A et al.
View publication2021 European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry 22(4), 561–566
Validating a short form of the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS) in Finnish language
Keränen A, Karki S, Anttonen V, Laitala M-L
View publication