NL
DE
23 January 2020
Where do you live and with whom?
I live in Nijmegen, on my own. My two sons have left home now, so I am considering moving to a smaller house.
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? Can you tell us something about your child years.
As the oldest of four children, I have three younger brothers, I used to feel very responsible. I played the piano, so I had fantasies of becoming a concert pianist. In addition, ideas of becoming an artist, theologian or psychologist came along. But eventually I ended up being a doctor.
What was your previous academic training, where did you study and why did you choose that study/those studies?
I studied medicine at Leiden University, where I also completed my PhD thesis on cognitive behavioural therapy for medically unexplained physical symptoms and my training to become a psychiatrist. Because of my interest in cognitive behavioural therapy, I spent some years in Oxford as a research fellow and several years at the Inpatient Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Unit and Institute of Psychiatry in London as a consultant psychiatrist and senior clinical lecturer.
Of which of your research discoveries, you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the emergence of mindfulness-based interventions in medicine, and broader in our society, over the last twenty years. As the Radboud Center for Mindfulness, we have paid a significant contribution to this, both in terms of scientific research on the effectiveness of mindfulness in people with psychological and somatic problems and in the training of mindfulness teachers from a variety of professional backgrounds.
What is your most important scientific challenge in the coming 5 years?
The coming five years I’d like to further investigate the possible impact of compassion and retreats. As retreats are an important means in the meditative traditions to maintain or further develop mindfulness and compassion, I would like to explore possibilities to integrate this in the care for patients with psychiatric or somatic conditions, and health care workers.
If you could choose any mentor, who would this be?
The people who inspire me most at the present are Christina Feldman and Stephen Batchelor. Both have spent several years of their life in Asia to study meditation and try to apply this now in the West. Christina has done a lot of work on the cultivation of friendliness and compassion. Stephen has developed the concept of “secular Buddhism” to implement the basic Buddhist principles in the modern world, without the burden of unnecessary rules and rituals.
What is your favorite topic: molecules - patients - population?
My favorite topic is population. If we really want to address the problems that humans and the world are facing right now, we need to develop and apply population wide interventions, preferably to even prevent problems rather than try to cure them.
What should be changed / improved in the scientific community?
The scientific community is a community like any other, which can benefit from more awareness, non-reactivity, inclusivity, generosity and compassion. Science can pay such an important contribution to taking care of the society and natural environment we live in, not only by their results but also by the way they reach these.
Is there anything we can wake you up for in the middle of the night?
Rather not. I have an “ochtendhumeur” as it is! So, I’d rather enjoy a good night’s sleep as I would wish all scientists to have.
What is the thing that irritates you most?
I try to be irritated less than I used to, as it usually leads nowhere or makes things worse. But I must admit I can’t stop myself being irritated by the continuing lack of females in leadership positions in our scientific community.
Who would you like to have dinner with, if you had the chance?
My sons, even though I appreciate and enjoy them having their own lives.
How do you relax from the demanding job being a scientist?
I really enjoy taking long walks in natural environments, visiting exhibitions, films and concerts. I am happy to live in Nijmegen, where we have so many opportunities to enjoy both nature and culture.
Do you have a tip for our most junior scientists?
Preserve your work life balance. Don’t necessarily pursue a career. Pursue to be a balanced and contended person who feels connected to the people and world around you.
Please make a selection:
o Crisper-Cas9 or AI: AI
o Pipette or Biostatistics: biostatistics
o RT-PCR or Proteomics: neither
o Big data or Clinical trial: clinical trial
Please add a photo which represents a remarkable event or experience you were part of? Please explain.
Walking with my sons and mother along the Waal recently, exploring possible venues for a future retreat centre 😊.
Where do you live and with whom?
I live in Nijmegen, on my own. My two sons have left home now, so I am considering moving to a smaller house.
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up? Can you tell us something about your child years.
As the oldest of four children, I have three younger brothers, I used to feel very responsible. I played the piano, so I had fantasies of becoming a concert pianist. In addition, ideas of becoming an artist, theologian or psychologist came along. But eventually I ended up being a doctor.
What was your previous academic training, where did you study and why did you choose that study/those studies?
I studied medicine at Leiden University, where I also completed my PhD thesis on cognitive behavioural therapy for medically unexplained physical symptoms and my training to become a psychiatrist. Because of my interest in cognitive behavioural therapy, I spent some years in Oxford as a research fellow and several years at the Inpatient Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Unit and Institute of Psychiatry in London as a consultant psychiatrist and senior clinical lecturer.
Of which of your research discoveries, you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the emergence of mindfulness-based interventions in medicine, and broader in our society, over the last twenty years. As the Radboud Center for Mindfulness, we have paid a significant contribution to this, both in terms of scientific research on the effectiveness of mindfulness in people with psychological and somatic problems and in the training of mindfulness teachers from a variety of professional backgrounds.
What is your most important scientific challenge in the coming 5 years?
The coming five years I’d like to further investigate the possible impact of compassion and retreats. As retreats are an important means in the meditative traditions to maintain or further develop mindfulness and compassion, I would like to explore possibilities to integrate this in the care for patients with psychiatric or somatic conditions, and health care workers.
If you could choose any mentor, who would this be?
The people who inspire me most at the present are Christina Feldman and Stephen Batchelor. Both have spent several years of their life in Asia to study meditation and try to apply this now in the West. Christina has done a lot of work on the cultivation of friendliness and compassion. Stephen has developed the concept of “secular Buddhism” to implement the basic Buddhist principles in the modern world, without the burden of unnecessary rules and rituals.
What is your favorite topic: molecules - patients - population?
My favorite topic is population. If we really want to address the problems that humans and the world are facing right now, we need to develop and apply population wide interventions, preferably to even prevent problems rather than try to cure them.
What should be changed / improved in the scientific community?
The scientific community is a community like any other, which can benefit from more awareness, non-reactivity, inclusivity, generosity and compassion. Science can pay such an important contribution to taking care of the society and natural environment we live in, not only by their results but also by the way they reach these.
Is there anything we can wake you up for in the middle of the night?
Rather not. I have an “ochtendhumeur” as it is! So, I’d rather enjoy a good night’s sleep as I would wish all scientists to have.
What is the thing that irritates you most?
I try to be irritated less than I used to, as it usually leads nowhere or makes things worse. But I must admit I can’t stop myself being irritated by the continuing lack of females in leadership positions in our scientific community.
Who would you like to have dinner with, if you had the chance?
My sons, even though I appreciate and enjoy them having their own lives.
How do you relax from the demanding job being a scientist?
I really enjoy taking long walks in natural environments, visiting exhibitions, films and concerts. I am happy to live in Nijmegen, where we have so many opportunities to enjoy both nature and culture.
Do you have a tip for our most junior scientists?
Preserve your work life balance. Don’t necessarily pursue a career. Pursue to be a balanced and contended person who feels connected to the people and world around you.
Please make a selection:
o Crisper-Cas9 or AI: AI
o Pipette or Biostatistics: biostatistics
o RT-PCR or Proteomics: neither
o Big data or Clinical trial: clinical trial
Please add a photo which represents a remarkable event or experience you were part of? Please explain.
Walking with my sons and mother along the Waal recently, exploring possible venues for a future retreat centre 😊.
