Netherlands
With over 25 years of experience as a neonatologist and pediatrician, I am committed to delivering high-quality medical care and conducting research for infants, children, and adolescents. As the Dean of Spaarne Gasthuis Academy, I oversee the educational and research programs for all healthcare professionals in our top clinical hospital, ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and supporting the clinical staff. I am also a visiting professor at KU Leuven, where I collaborate with faculty and students in the Biomedical Sciences group and the Child and Youth Studies Institute. My research interests include medical decision-making, conflictual family situations. Additionally, I serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the European Journal of Pediatrics, where I oversee the editorial process and promote the dissemination of scientific knowledge in the field. I am passionate about learning, exploring new ideas, and improving myself and the world around me.
As a dean in our top clinical hospital, my role is to ensure that the hospital provides high-quality research, education, and training for all healthcare professionals. This includes developing educational programs, overseeing research projects, and providing oversight for educational and research facilities. I also work to support the clinical staff and ensure the hospital is compliant with accreditation standards.
As a paediatrician, I am a doctor specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions affecting infants, children, and adolescents. In general, I am responsible for diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries, promoting healthy habits, coordinating care with other healthcare providers, and educating parents on how to care for their child. For Down syndrome specifically, I am responsible for providing medical care and monitoring a child’s health and development. This includes providing preventive health services, managing any associated medical conditions, and referring to specialists as needed. With my team, we are responsible for helping families understand and cope with the physical and emotional challenges associated with Down syndrome.
A medical (vice-)staff chair in science and education is responsible for overseeing the research and educational activities of medical staff and helping to ensure their continued professional development. My position would involve organizing and implement educational and research programs and initiatives, providing guidance and resources to medical staff, and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders to promote collaboration and innovation. As a team, we are responsible for staying abreast of new developments in the field and ensuring that medical staff are kept informed and up to date on the latest advances in medical science and education.
As a guest professor at the Department of Development and Regeneration of Biomedical Science Group and also at the KU Leuven Institute for Child and Youth Studies, I am expected to conduct research, teach, and engage in scholarly activities. I provide advice to the research teams and collaborate with faculty and students in the research activities of the group. My main interests are education and teaching programs for trainers/trainees. My current expertise and input are related to the clinical practice of medical decision-making in children and adolescents. I focus on my expertise in handling medical cases in the context of conflictual family situations. I co-promoted the first case-based surveys and am a co-author on several publications of this research project. Furthermore, I also promote a research project in the Netherlands on parental and physician disagreement on medical help-seeking in paediatrics. https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/nl/person/00126433
As a Chief Editor for the European Journal of Pediatrics, I am responsible for the overall editorial content and direction of the journal. Moreover, I am responsible for developing and maintaining the journal’s editorial standards and practices, making sure that the journal’s content is timely, relevant, and of the highest quality. I oversee the peer-review process. I collaborate worldwide with authors, editors, and other stakeholders to ensure the journal’s success.
Yearly lectures concerning Scientific Writing and Medical Decision-Making