Frank BuntinxMD, PhD

About

A life in practice, research, teaching and public service

  1. 1950–1977

    Early years and medical training

    Frank Buntinx was born in Hasselt in 1950. He studied medicine at KU Leuven and graduated in 1975. He registered as a general practitioner and began the work that would remain the centre of his professional life. He married Lieve Brams in 1975; they have three children, Els (born 1977), Walter (born 1979) and Marianne (born 1983), and six grandchildren.

  2. 1975–1992

    General practice in Maasmechelen

    From 1975 until 2021, he worked as a general practitioner in Maasmechelen. Alongside patient care, he trained future general practitioners, served professional organisations and joined the editorial board of Huisarts Nu. He chaired that board from 1981 to 1989. Questions arising in daily practice increasingly led him towards clinical and epidemiological research.

  3. 1989–2000

    From practice to clinical epidemiology

    He joined the Department of General Practice at Maastricht as a researcher in 1989. In 1992 he completed a doctorate there on the sampling quality of cervical smears. His work expanded into diagnostic methodology, cancer detection, multimorbidity and the use of routine general-practice data. During the 1990s he also helped develop research capacity among general practitioners in Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries.

  4. 2000–2016

    Professorships and research leadership

    In 2000 he became professor of Clinical Epidemiology in Primary Care Medicine at Maastricht University. The following year he became a half-time full professor and research director in General Practice at KU Leuven. He combined both appointments with his consulting room in Maasmechelen. From 2001 to 2008 he served as founding president of CEBAM, the Belgian Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, and later chaired its scientific advisory committee.

  5. Across the career

    Teaching and collaboration

    Research and education remained closely connected. He taught diagnostic epidemiology, evidence appraisal and research methods, supervised doctoral and master's research, and worked with clinical and public-health networks in Belgium and abroad. In 2006 he became a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine. He chaired its standing committee on Society and Health from 2009 to 2017 and became an honorary member in 2023.

  6. 2016–today

    Philosophy and community work

    After retiring from his professorships, he remained involved in research and doctoral supervision. He completed postgraduate studies in philosophy, critical thinking and citizenship at PXL in 2021, followed by professional cook training in 2022. His later work includes ethics review in care organisations, philosophical conversations and volunteering as a cook with SOMA Maasmechelen, an organisation addressing poverty.

Frank Buntinx volunteering in the kitchen at SOMA Maasmechelen
Volunteering in the kitchen at SOMA Maasmechelen, 2024.

Curriculum vitae

The record in full

Qualifications, awards, appointments and teaching.

Qualifications

  • MD (genees-, heel- en verloskunde), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 1975.
  • PhD, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg (now Maastricht University), 1992 — thesis: The sampling quality of cervical smears.
  • Registered as a general practitioner (RIZIV), 1977, and as a general practitioners' trainer (Belgian social security ministry), 1985.
  • Registered as an epidemiologist (SMBWO, the Netherlands), 1994.
  • Registered as a specialist in health data management (RIZIV), 2003.
  • GCP certificate, The Global Health Network, 2026.
  • BLS/AED instructor course, 2007.
  • Postgraduate Philosophy, critical thinking & citizenship, Hogeschool PXL, 2021.
  • Chef diploma of cooking, PCVO Limburg Maasmechelen, 2022.
  • Licensed as a private pilot, 1980–1984.
  • Member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine from 2006; chairman of its standing committee on Society and Health, 2009–2017; honorary member since 2023.

Awards

  • 1988 — Prijs van de Vlaamse Huisarts (biannual).
  • 1995, 1999, 2003, 2006 — with co-authors: award for the best research paper published in an international journal by a Flemish GP (biannual).
  • 1990, 2006 — with co-authors: HANU-VHI prize for the best research publication in Huisarts Nu (biannual).
  • 1994 — with M. Van den Akker and J.A. Knottnerus: poster prize at the Referatendag voor de Vlaamse Huisartsenresearch.
  • 1994 — with co-authors: WCS award (Wound Consultants Society).
  • 2002 — FWO Krediet aan navorsers (personal award for researchers).
  • 2006 — with co-authors: prize for the best scientific communication of the Belgian Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics.
  • 2007 — with co-authors: honourable mention, Prijs Magda Dierendonck for the promotion of scientific research in nursing in Flanders.
  • 2010 — with co-authors: Prijs Juliette Van de Schueren for scientific and quality-improvement projects in nursing.
  • 2014 — Journal of Clinical Epidemiology: Certificate of Reviewing Excellence.
  • Member of a large number of prize-awarding committees.

Scientific appointments

  • 1992–2016 — Member of the steering group of the Belgian sentinel stations.
  • 1993–2004 — Chairman of the Limburg Cancer Registry (LIKAR).
  • 1993–2003 — Chairman of MEDION, a methods-development group for meta-analysis of diagnostic studies (10 departments, 5 universities).
  • 1993–2003 — Member, and from 1999 to 2003 co-convenor, of the Cochrane Collaboration's Methods Group on Diagnostic and Screening Tests.
  • 1993–2005 — Member of working parties and consensus groups on cervical screening (Flemish ministry of social affairs).
  • 1994–2002 — Member of the steering group of the Belgian cancer registry (NKR).
  • 1995– — Member of the executive board, and from 1999 to 2016 president, of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Limburg (LIKAS).
  • 1995–2005 — Member of the Flemish steering group on quality assurance in general practice and, until 2002, of its guidelines validation committee.
  • 1996–2001 — Member of the guidelines development group on symptom control in palliative care, Limburg comprehensive cancer center.
  • 1999–2002 — Member of the steering group of the WVVH committee on nursing homes for the elderly.
  • 1999–2008 — Member of the council of the Limburg Preventive Health Council.
  • 2001–2008 — Member of the advisory board of the Dutch Cochrane Centre.
  • 2002–2007 — Member of the Belgian National Board of Quality Assurance (Nationale Raad voor Kwaliteitspromotie).
  • 2012– — Alternate member, Samenwerkingsplatform Thuisgezondheidszorg, Flemish Government.
  • 1998–2000 — Chairman of the multidisciplinary working party on Small Area Epidemiology.
  • 1986–2000 — Member (1992–95 president) of the Flemish Institute for Research in General Practice (Vlaams Huisartsen Instituut).
  • 1995–1999 — Chairman of the steering group of the Documentation Center of the Flemish Scientific Society of General Practitioners.
  • 1993–1999 — European representative of the Cochrane Collaboration field in Primary Health Care.
  • 1994–1997 — Member of the steering group and chairman of the scientific committee of the Limburg Programme on Methadone treatment.
  • 1992–1996 — Coordinator of HAKLEON, a working party on clinical epidemiology research of the Maastricht and Leuven university departments of general practice.
  • 1990–1994 — Member of the executive of the European Scientific Society of General Practice (SIMG) and of the scientific committee of its international congresses.
  • 1989–1992 — Member of the Flemish-Dutch working party on systems-based thinking in general practice.
  • 1994 — Member of the organisational committee of the consensus meeting on methadone substitution, at the initiative of the Belgian health minister.
  • 1975–2005 — Member of the Flemish Scientific Society of General Practitioners.
  • 2010 — Member of the working party on Positioning and chairman of its subgroup on Research, preparing the Flemish primary care conference.
  • 2014–2022 — Member of the standing psychosocial projects funding committee and the working party on cancer in the elderly of Kom op tegen Kanker (Flemish League against Cancer).
  • 2017–2022 — Chairman of the standing cancer care organisations funding committee of Kom op tegen Kanker.

Current or retired member of the European General Practitioners Research Workshop, the Dutch Epidemiological Society, the European Public Health Association and the Belgian Public Health Association.

Current or previous reviewer and jury member for IWT Vlaanderen, the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), the Dutch Research Council (NWO), ZonMW, the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program (US), the Irish Health Research Board, Cancer Research UK, NHS-NIHR, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, the Academy of Finland, the Dutch Association of Burn Centres, the Institute of Tropical Medicine and the Belgian Federal Knowledge Centre for Health Care (KCE).

Research development support abroad

  • Romania — research training course for GPs (MATRA project, 4 years) and coaching/supervision of two PhD theses.
  • DR Congo — regular support and training of the Centre d'épidémiologie du diabète and supervision of one PhD thesis, 2004–2015.
  • Russia — one-week training in research methodology, Academy of Medicine, St. Petersburg, 2008.

Teaching appointments

  • 1985–2012 — Trainer in general practice.
  • 1993–2016 — University teaching at KU Leuven: introduction to general practice, scientific line (introduction and tutorials), and the epidemiological basis of diagnostics.
  • 1993–2004 — Course director of the two-year training programme for researchers in general practice (VHI, NHG, CARE and Flemish and Dutch university departments).
  • 1996–2016 — Member of the jury of the final examination in general practice, Belgium.
  • 1997– — Member of the working party for continuous training for Limburg general practitioners (PAVAL), Limburg University Centre.
  • 1998– — Lecturer at the three-year research training course for family physicians in Romania (MATRA project).
  • 1998–2002 — Member of the library council of Leuven University's medical school.
  • 1999– — Lecturer on meta-analysis at the OHO research training course for Flemish and Dutch GPs, the MATRA course for Romanian GPs, the VRA-SGO course for revalidation specialists (1999–2005) and the NUTRIM course on meta-analysis (2000–2001).
  • 2000– — University course on epidemiological aspects of diagnosis (2nd year medical school), KU Leuven.
  • 2008–2016 — Instructor, European Resuscitation Council.
  • 2001 — Member of a faculty working group on the introduction of a scientific package in years 1–5 of medical training at KU Leuven; lecturer within this package (5th year), 2003–2010.
  • 1997 — Chairman of a workshop on reviews of diagnostic tests, 5th annual Cochrane Colloquium, Amsterdam.
  • 1995–1996 — Course director of a multidisciplinary training cycle on methadone treatment for professionals in five regions of Limburg.
  • 1993–1995 — Member of the steering group on teaching general practice of the Flemish Interuniversity Council.
  • 1993 — Teacher (with O. Lillenholt, Norway) of the course on computer use in general-practice-based epidemiological research, Baja, Hungary.
  • 1992 — Member of the question panel at the consensus conference on cancer training for general practitioners, Copenhagen (UEMO and EG Europe against Cancer).

Visiting professorships at PHL (cancer epidemiology) and KHLim (dementia: general aspects). Supervision of PhD students at the universities of Leuven, Maastricht, Ghent, Hasselt and Kinshasa, and of master students and trainees; in the past, coaching of more than 50 trainee research projects. Member of PhD examination committees at the universities of Antwerp, KU Leuven, Hasselt, Ghent, VUB, Liège, Maastricht, VU Amsterdam, Erasmus Rotterdam, Nijmegen and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova. More than 150 teaching lectures for national and international audiences, apart from scientific congress presentations; chair of (parts of) national and international scientific meetings, symposia and congresses.

PhD supervision — successfully defended (26)

  • Marjan van den Akker — Kwetsbaarheid voor multiple aandoeningen. Maastricht, 1999 (promotor).
  • Dieudonné Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo — Le glaucome chronique simple: étude épidémiologique, biométrique et anatomique. KU Leuven, 1999 (co-promotor).
  • Bert Aertgeerts — Problematisch alcoholgebruik in Vlaanderen: prevalentie en vroegtijdige detectie. KU Leuven, 2000 (promotor).
  • Nyree Claes — Quality improvement of the management of oral anticoagulation by the Belgian GPs. KU Leuven, 2005 (co-promotor).
  • Cathy Mathei — Epidemiologie van hepatitis C bij illegale druggebruikers. KU Leuven, 2006 (promotor).
  • Ann Van den Bruel — The value of signs and symptoms for the diagnosis of serious infections in children in primary care. KU Leuven, 2006 (promotor).
  • Eliane Kellen — A Belgian case-control study on bladder cancer. KU Leuven, 2007 (promotor).
  • Geert Robaeys — The treatment of hepatitis C in intravenous drug users. KU Leuven, 2008 (co-promotor).
  • Stefaan Bartholomeeusen — Morbiditeitsonderzoek in de huisartspraktijk door gebruik van geïnformatiseerde gegevensverzameling. KU Leuven, 2008 (promotor).
  • Birgitte Schoenmakers — Supporting family caregivers of dementia patients: from idea to evidence. KU Leuven, 2009 (co-promotor).
  • Rudi Bruyninckx — The proof of (un-)certainty: diagnostic research on chest pain in a GP setting. KU Leuven, 2010 (co-promotor).
  • Maree Brinkman — Dietary risk factors associated with bladder cancer. KU Leuven, 2011 (promotor).
  • Carla Truyers — The use of general practice continuous morbidity registration systems for public health surveillance. KU Leuven, 2011 (promotor).
  • Laura Deckx — The older cancer survivor: consequences of cancer and ageing. KU Leuven, 2015 (promotor).
  • Jan Verbakel — Serious infection in acutely ill children in primary care: validating clinical prediction rules and the added value of vital signs and point-of-care tests. KU Leuven, 2015 (promotor).
  • Wim Adriaensen — Clinical impact of immunosenescence. KU Leuven (double doctorate with UCL) (co-promotor).
  • Mieke Goossens — Evaluation of chemoprevention with selenium on the recurrence of non-invasive bladder cancer: a phase III randomized study. KU Leuven, 2017 (promotor).
  • Robert Willemsen — H-FABP in chest pain patients in general practice (cum laude). Maastricht University, 2018 (co-promotor).
  • Marie-Claire Muyer Muel Telo — Épidémiologie du diabète sucré chez le Congolais à Kinshasa et à Kisantu. University of Kinshasa, 2018 (co-promotor).
  • Abdelbari Baitar — A geriatric assessment-based approach for the older patient with cancer. KU Leuven, 2018 (co-promotor).
  • Marieke Lemiengre — Tackling inappropriate antibiotic prescribing to acutely ill children in primary care. Ghent University, 2018 (co-promotor).
  • Amber Arain — Optimalisatie van het management voor antivirale therapie bij de belangrijkste risicogroep voor hepatitis C-infectie. Hasselt University, 2019 (co-promotor).
  • Leonarda Jansen — Improving the psychosocial wellbeing of informal caregivers in an ageing population. KU Leuven, 2020 (co-promotor).
  • Walter Renier — The added value of POCT and technological aids in patients with dyspnoea and chest pain. KU Leuven, 2021 (co-promotor).
  • Katrien Latour — Urinary infections in nursing home residents. KU Leuven, 2023 (co-promotor).
  • Xiaoqian Zhang — The role of family medicine in China: implications for healthcare system reform. KU Leuven, 2024 (co-promotor).

He also sat on 36 PhD examination and guidance committees at universities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Romania.

Master's and licentiate theses (85)

Supervised between 1996 and 2018 at KU Leuven, Maastricht University, Hasselt University, the University of Oxford and the Limburg University Centre.

  • Hoogendam Arien: Literatuuronderzoek: De diagnostische waarde van prostaatafwijkingen bij klinisch onderzoek voor de diagnose van prostaatkanker. RL artsopleiding: 1996.
  • Buyens Yolande: Redenen voor deelname aan een cardio-vasculair preventieproject. KU Leuven licentie psychologie: 1996 (promotor: Prof. V.D.Berghe).
  • Liedekerke Bart: Literatuuronderzoek: De diagnostische waarde van langdurig hoesten voor de diagnose van longkanker. Universiteit Maastricht artsopleiding: 1996.
  • Huitema HOM: Comorbidity of chronic gastro-intestinal disorders: a cross-sectional analysis in a large general practice population in the Netherlands. Universiteit Maastricht artsop- leiding 1996.
  • Lo Bianco Francesca en Severijns Rebecca: Kinderen van heroïne-afhankelijke moeders: Katholieke Hogeschool limburg/ Departement gezondheidszorg. Eindwerk Verpleegkunde: Genk 1997.
  • Baron Nenoit. Factors related to white coat hypertension. LUC. MSc Biostatistics; 1998.
  • Voordijk-Van den Bem Margreet: afnamekwaliteit van cervixuitstrijkjes gemaakt door doktersassistenten. UM Huisartsopleiding: 1999.
  • Schuurmans J. De behandeling van obesitas: een literatuurstudie naar het effect van dieet en gedragsinterventies bij de behandeling van obesitas. UM artsopleiding: 1999.
  • Pinckers V en Schulteis E. Het effect van de chirurgische behandeling van obesitas (literatuurreview). UM artsopleiding: 1999.
  • Hermans S. Influenzavaccinatie tijdens de winter 1998-1999. ICHO/KUL Huisartsopleiding: 1999.
  • Dewallef Liesbeth. De zorg voor dementerende migranten in Vlaanderen. KU Leuven. licentie antropologie: 2001.
  • Wachana Richard. Retrospectieve cohortstudies binnen het Integoprogramma. LUC: MSc Biostatistics: 2002
  • Kabili Conrad. Development of a transmission model for hepatitis C besmetting LUC: MSc Biostatistics: 2002
  • Chang-Yeon Kim. The denominator problem in morbidity studies in Belgian general practice. LUC: MSc Applied Statistics: 2003.
  • Page Geert. Indwelling bladder catheterisation as part of postoperative care for caesarean section. Univ of Oxford: MSc in evidence-based health care: 2003
  • Peeters RHA. Incidentietrends in het RNH: resultaten van enkele chronische ziekten en nadere belichting met betrekking tot volgend RNH incidentieonderzoek. Wetenschapsstage artsopleiding U. Maastricht: 2003.
  • Skrotzi Tanja. Zijn er verschillen tussen gezinnen met een gehandicapt kind en andere gezinnen? Invloed van cardiale problemen op gezinsinteracties. OTG programma artsopleiding UM: 2001-2004
  • Cloostermans Iris. De beleving van borstkanker bij Italiaanse, Turkse en Vlaamse vrouwen in Limburg. KU Leuven. licentie antropologie: 2004.
  • Maringwa John. A comparison of different methods for multivariate analysis of diagnostic tests. LUC: MSc Applied Statistics: 2004.
  • Claes Elke. Optimaliseren van de participatiegraad voor borstkankerscreening in een groepspraktijk te Houthalen-Helchteren. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneskunde KULeuven 2008
  • Lonnée Annelies. Een thuisdossier bij huisbezoekenafhankelijke patiënten: voor wie kan het een pluspunt zijn? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneskunde KULeuven 2008
  • Truyers Carla. Diseases in General Practice in Flanders. Forecasting time trends. Universiteit Hasselt: MSc Biostatistics: 2008.
  • Van Marcke Xavier. Wat zijn psychosociale behoeften bij kankerpatienten tijdens het verloop van hun ziekte? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2009.
  • Van de plas Jeroen. Kankerpatienten op zoek naar een tweede opinie. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2009.
  • Lauryssen A. Problemen in de palliatieve thuiszorg. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2009.
  • Van den Broek Bart. Pulsoxymetrie. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Daniels Liesbeth. Kwetsbaarheid bij thuiswonende ouderen. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010. (Prijs voor de beste Manamathesis 2011 De Huisarts)
  • Smeets Nathalie: Het optimaliseren van de begeleiding van patiënten met antistollingsbehandeling door het verbeteren van hun kennis. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Geelen Mieke. De Omron heart scan: Een meerwaarde in de acute cardiale diagnostiek in de eerste lijn? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Curtis Brian Shaw. Communicatie tijdens de palliatieve zorg. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Van Landegem Pieter-Jan. Symptoomcontrole bij de palliatieve patient. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Truyen Ine. Onderzoek naar incidenties van luchtwegaandoeningen in Genkse wijken op basis van het electronisch medisch dossier. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KULeuven 2010.
  • Ngwana Geraldine. Relation between Metformin treatment and the emergence of malignancies. Master of statistics U Hasselt: 2010.
  • Wami Welcome. Effect of co-morbidity and co-medication on treatment effects in patients with chronic diseases. Master of statistics U Hasselt: 2010.
  • Abbeel Annelies. Verandert de zuurstofsaturatiemeter het beleid van de huisarts bij urgenties. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2010.
  • Truyers Marjolein. Abdominale symptomen en kanker in de eerste lijn. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2011.
  • Houben Inge. Wondzorg: evidence-based medicine versus de praktijk. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2011.
  • Gheysen Isabel. De Vlaamse huisarts beschikt over voldoende kennis en materiaal om adequaat te handelen in spoedeisende situaties: een utopie of niet? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2011.
  • De Witte Jacorine. De keuze van patiënten voor 1°, 2°, 3° lijn; het zorgvraaggedrag van patiënten in België. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2011.
  • Huyghe Tine. Preventing factitious hyperkalaemia in general practice by using blood collection tubes with a new rapid clot activating solution (BD Vacutainer® Rapid serim tubes). MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2011.
  • Errico Jessie. Can we use an automated oscillometric device instead of vascular doppler to measure the ankle brachial pressure index in general practice? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Vangronsveld Karen. In welke mate beïnvloeden chronische aandoeningen de werkbekwaamheid van 55-65 jarigen in Vlaanderen? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Tadevosian Loretta. Hoe kan een call recall methode, vertrekkende van de bekende gegevens in het EMD, de GMD+ status van de patient vervolledigen? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Dewit Hanne. De relevantie van microscopie in de huisartsenpraktijk. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Beinsberger Hanne. De relevantie van microscopie in de huisartsenpraktijk. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Rogiers Evie. Hiaten in de kennis over acute situaties en de inhoud van de urgentietrousse bij Vlamse huisartsen. MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012.
  • Vergeer D enise. Is fatigue a reliable sign of depression in older people? WESP Geneeskunde U Maastricht 2012
  • Driesens Veerle. Association between depression, coping style, and health locus of control in an older cancer population. WESP Geneeskunde U Maastricht 2012
  • Korte Annelieke. Loneliness and its strong association with depressive symptoms in older people. WESP Geneeskunde U Maastricht 2012
  • CornelissenThomas. Is de distress barometer bruikbaar als screeningstool voor depressie bij ouderen? MaNaMa Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2012
  • Gulpen Anouk. Kwaliteit van leven, functionele status en fysieke capaciteit bij oudere kankerpatiënten. A_KO combistage U. Maastricht 2012.
  • Smets Ine. Diagnostic value of four screening instruments for frailty in older cancer and non- cancer patients. Master Health, policy, innovation and management, U. Maastricht 2012
  • Vanderauwera Sarah. Incidentie van en risicofactoren voor urineweginfecties bij geinstitutionaliseerde en niet-geinstitutionaliseerde ouderen. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2013.
  • Meus Koen. Analyse van factoren die huisartsen ervan weerhouden om bij ouderen met urineweginfecties , verblijvend in woonzorgcentra, hun voorschrijfgedrag aan te passen aan de bestaande guidelines. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2013.
  • Verhoeyen Eva. Urineweginfecties in woonzorgcentra: literatuuronderzoek van de methode van staalafname bij ouderen vergeleken met de methode van staalafname in de praktijk. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2013.
  • Von Winckelman Karin. The occurrence of acute dy spnea in primary care. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2013.
  • Gescher Nicky. Occurrence and associated factors of malnutrition among community- dwelling older adults. Universiteit Maastricht: WESP 2013.
  • Michael Ummels. The association between depression and malnutrition in older people with and without cancer. Universiteit Maastricht: WESP 2013.
  • Hendriks Suzanne. Depression among caregivers involved in caring for older patients with and without cancer. Universiteit Maastricht: WESP 2013.
  • Decoster Robin. Point of care technology in de huisartspraktijk: Een FMEA studie van een in vitro diagnostische test voor de kwantitatieve bepâling van CRP. MSc Management en beleid van de gezondheidszorg KU Leuven 2013.
  • Aarts Jurian. Differences in health locus of control and coping style and their relation with depression in people wit hand without cancer of the KLIMOP cohort. Universiteit Maastricht: WESP 2014.
  • Bertheloot Karen & Deraeve Pieterjan. Hoe gebruiken Vlaamse huisartsen safety-netting bij acuut zieke kinderen? MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2014.
  • Paschmans Alina. Mindfulness intervention in first year nursing students in the curriculum of the Fonty’s Hogeschool. Maastricht University: MSc Mental Health 2014.
  • Van Sambeek Iris. Reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire. Maastricht University: MSc Mental Health 2014.
  • Peeters Ilse. De plaats van valeriaan en passieflora in de behandeling van slaaapproblemen. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2015.
  • Goosssens Wouter. Diagnostisch beleid bij diep veneuze trombose en longembool in de huisartspraktijk en in het ziekenhuis. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2015.
  • Van den Heuvel Els. Effect of acustimulation on morning sickness or hyperemesis in pregnancy: a systematic review of western and Chinese literature. MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2015.
  • Faes Michiel. Is de modified early warning score bruikbaar in de huisartsengeneeskunde? MaNaMa Huisartgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2015.
  • Van Waardhuizen. Olga Distress in older and younger cancer patients: no differences in prevalence or wish for additional help. Maastricht University WESP: 2015
  • Moors Luuk. Changes in health-related Quality of Life in older cancer patients and the relation with loneliness. Maastricht University WESP: 2015.
  • Wittevrongel Lore. Multimorbisiteit: een multidisciplinair probleem in de dagelijkse huisartsenpraktijk. MSc Geneeskunde KU Leuven 2015
  • Gouwy Valerie. Multimorbisiteit: een multidisciplinair probleem in de dagelijkse huisartsenpraktijk. MSc Geneeskunde KU Leuven 2015
  • Coture Annabel. Multimorbisiteit: een multidisciplinair probleem in de dagelijkse huisartsenpraktijk. MSc Geneeskunde KU Leuven 2015
  • Heylen Valerie. Multimorbisiteit: een multidisciplinair probleem in de dagelijkse huisartsenpraktijk. MSc Geneeskunde KU Leuven 2015
  • Pieter-Jan Gorissen. The evolution of health-related quality of life in patients with non- muscle invasive bladder cancer. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • Jacobs Vicky. Het emd als tool: is er een correlatie tussen een verhoogde urinezuurspiegel en cardiovasculaire events? Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • Baert Rani. De evolutie en mogelijke voorspellende factoren van subjectieve cognitieve klachten bij oudere patiënten met kanker. MSc Biomedische Wetenschappen KU Leuven 2016.
  • Weckhuysen Sarah. Depressie in mantelzorgers van oudere patiënten met kanker: effect van geslacht, relatie en leeftijd. MSc Biomedische Wetenschappen KU Leuven 2016.
  • Biesemans Leen. Management of chest pain patients in primary care: an interview-based study. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • Boogaerts Tom. Chest pain in primary care: frequency, causes and trends in incidence. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • Vanopdenbosch Jolien. Risicofactoren van postherpetische neuralgie: meta-analyse en veldstudie. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • De Vries Maarten. Risicofactoren voor postherpetische neuralgie bij zona patiënten: een literatuur- en veldstudie. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • Van der veken Ann. Vangnetadvies bij acuut zieke kinderen: visie van de ouders en invloed op hun bezorgdheid. Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2016.
  • De Jaeger Cedric. Het gebruik van continue meting van ademhalingsfrequentie in de urgente ambulante praktijk door middel van een nieuwe niet invasieve methode op basis van bio-impedantie. (co-promotor): Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2018.
  • Verstraelen Tim. Het belang van continue bloeddrukmeting in urgente ambulante setting, onderzoek naar een nieuwe niet-invasieve methode met behulp van photopletusmografie en electrocardiografie (co-promotor): Manama Huisartsgeneeskunde KU Leuven 2018.

Editorial appointments

From 1979 to 1992 member, and from 1981 to 1989 chairman, of the editorial board of Huisarts Nu, the journal of the Scientific Society of Flemish General Practitioners.

Former member of the board of editorial consultants of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology; former editorial board member of Allgemeinmedizin International General Practice, the Jaarboek Huisartsgeneeskunde, the European Journal of Family Medicine, Archives of Public Health and Geriatrie Select; former associate editor of BMC Family Practice; former senior editorial board member of OA Epidemiology, the Bulletin du Centre national d'épidémiologie du diabète (DRC), Zeitschrift für Allgemeinmedizin and the Open Public Health Journal.

Member of the international advisory board of the British Journal of General Practice; lead guest editor of a special issue on cancer in the elderly of the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology (2012).

(Former) reviewer for, among others, the British Medical Journal, BMJ Case Reports, Lancet Oncology, the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, PLOS One, the British Journal of General Practice, BMC Family Practice, BMC Medicine, Family Practice, the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, the European Journal of Cancer, the British Journal of Cancer, the International Journal of Cancer, Acta Cardiologica, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aging & Mental Health, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, PharmacoEconomics, Health Policy, BMC Public Health, Implementation Science and Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde.

Other appointments

  • 1981–1997 — Council member of the Flemish Scientific Society of General Practitioners.
  • 1985–2002 — Member, and from 1985 to 1997 chairman, of the multidisciplinary intervision group of professional carers for heroin addicts, Maasmechelen.
  • 1986–1997 — Member of the steering group supervising and coaching street-corner workers and drug-addiction carers in Maasmechelen.
  • 1981–1993 — Member of the executive, and from 1981 to 1990 vice-president, of the General Practitioners Society of Maasmechelen; honorary member from 2020.
  • 1982–1993 — Medical advisor of the East-Limburg regional group of the Belgian Diabetics Society.
  • 1985–1991 — Member of the council of the Limburg Institute for collaboration and training in primary care.
  • 1983–1988 — Vice-president of the Limburg Institute for vocational training of general practitioners.
  • 2017–2021 — Member of the steering group of Physicians in Problems / Artsen in Nood (Order of Physicians).
  • 2019–2021 — Collaborator at Vincentius Maasmechelen (poverty relief).
  • 2019– — Collaborator (cook) and since 2021 member of the executive at SOMA Maasmechelen (poverty relief).
  • 2020– — With Gilbert Drabbe: coordinator of Socratic dialogues in a neighbourhood building group in Sledderlo, Genk.
  • 2022– — Chairman of NEOS Maasmechelen.