He took the candidate.med. degree in 1945 and the dr.med. degree in 1966. He was a chief physician at the Akershus University Hospital and professor in neurology at the University of Oslo. He died in December 1988.
Lønnum wrote many books about health politics and subjects within military history. He became part of the environment around Anders Lange, and was one of the leaders in Anders Lange"s Party, where he also was chairman from 1975 to 1978 (from 1977 the name was the Progress Party).
He was a member of Oslo city council after the Norwegian local elections, 1987.