New professor of Oncological care: “I want to put the professorship more firmly on the map”

by time news

After almost 12 years at Nivel as program leader, Joke Korevaar is ready to start as a new lecturer oncological care. Among other things, she wants to continue research into aftercare for patients recovering from cancer. “That’s where my personal interest lies,” she says, “but I’m also very curious: what research does the professional field need?”


Until now, the Oncological Care professorship was a modest professorship, but with the appointment of Joke, there is room for expansion. “The question then is: where do we start?”, she says. “Oncological care is such a large area of ​​research! Just because of the different types of tumors and different types of patients, there is a multitude of focus areas. In addition, you can focus on palliative care, preventive care, aftercare, informal care: the possibilities are endless. That is why I will mainly have conversations in the field during my initial period: what do you need? And how can we do as much as possible for the patient together? Because that’s what I love about research at professorship level: if the research results are good, you can implement them right away.”

Good aftercare starts in the hospital

Of course, Joke will bring the experience and expertise she gained earlier to the professorship. “At Nivel, my focus area was the aftercare and follow-up of patients with cancer. Our research showed that after successful treatment, people are much more likely to visit their GP, up to 15 years after diagnosis. I find that fascinating. First of all: how come? And of course: how can we counteract and even prevent this? At Nivel, we examined what GPs are already doing to support this group and what else they can do for their patients. But good aftercare starts in the hospital, of course. That is why I now want to shed more light on the aftercare and control processes of specialist care. How can it contribute to faster reintegration and better overall health after active treatment? I personally think that the answer lies in better matching the wishes and needs of the patient, as well as the risk that a patient runs of cancer recurrence or of the late effects of cancer. So a more personal approach, with more attention to specific care needs.”

Collaboration with other professorships

Joke has the next 6 years to put the Oncological Care professorship firmly on the map, for example by expanding the partnerships. “I’m really looking forward to it,” she says enthusiastically. “A more multidisciplinary approach is desirable in various care areas, for example in palliative care. Collaboration and learning from each other is also very important in preventive care. That is why I am opting for a joint approach with other lectorates. After all, healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, exercising more and eating healthier reduce the risk of all kinds of chronic conditions. Not only the risk of cancer, but also of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, you name it. Of course, each field has its own specific characteristics, but I think we can serve each other well with research into prevention.”

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