| Espen Rostrup Nakstad | |
| Nationality: | Norwegian |
| Occupation: | Physician, lawyer author |
| Known For: | Response to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Alma Mater: | University of Oslo |
Espen Rostrup Nakstad (born 1975) is a Norwegian physician, lawyer and author from Skjetten who is the current assistant director of the Norwegian Directorate for Health and Social Affairs.
Nakstad earned a Doctorate in medicine from the University of Oslo and is specialized in respiratory disease and internal medicine. In 2018 he issued a book on disaster preparedness together with Bjørn Bjelland, Beredskap, kriseledelse og praktisk skadestedsarbeid. He leads the CBRNE Centre at Ullevål Hospital/Oslo University Hospital.[1] Among others, he led Ullevål Hospital's response when a Norwegian citizen affected by the 2014 ebola outbreak was flown home to Norway.[2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire leadership of the Norwegian Directorate of Health was quarantined, and Nakstad was brought in as acting assistant director on 14 March 2020.[3] His Norwegian work title was shortened to "fung.ass." (lit. "funct[ioning] ass[istant] director"), which became a popular moniker when referring to Nakstad on social media.[4] He was praised for his communication skills in several crisis briefings, especially his espousing security and "stoic calmness".[1] [2]
A twin, Nakstad lost his twin brother in a helicopter crash in 2014.[1] He is a nephew of Morten Rostrup of the Doctors Without Borders.[2]