Jacob Jorem, MD, JD

Jacob Jorem, JD, MD is an Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at the Department of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and currently a Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice with the Commonwealth Fund. He is also a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health and Society at the University of Oslo. Last year, he was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University while completing his interdisciplinary Ph.D. in mental health policy. His research focuses on healthcare delivery for individuals with serious mental illness.

Dr. Jorem has authored several publications in top-tier journals, including The Lancet, British Journal of Psychiatry Open, BMC Psychiatry, and a book chapter on mental health law. He has extensive experience teaching both professionals and students, giving lectures and seminars on mental health, health law, and bioethics at leading academic institutions (e.g., Harvard University, Columbia University, King’s College London, Central European University), governmental organizations (e.g., National Institutes of Health, Norwegian Directorate of Health), and national and international conferences (e.g., American Psychiatric Association’s Annual Meeting, World Congress of Psychiatry). Additionally, Dr. Jorem has presented for professional organizations (e.g., Royal College of Psychiatrists, Norwegian Psychiatric Association) and at hospitals (e.g., Oslo University Hospital).

Dr. Jorem also served as the Head of the Secretariat for the Expert Committee on Decision-Making Capacity, where he played a key role in shaping policy recommendations for Norway’s mental health system. As a Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, he provided authoritative interpretations of the Norwegian Mental Health Care Act. He also represented the Norwegian government as a litigating lawyer in court cases concerning involuntary hospitalizations in mental healthcare. As a psychiatrist, he served as Chief Physician at the adult psychiatric division of Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, ensuring high-quality care for patients.