Role and expertise
I am a nurse by training, with clinical experience in emergency care, and currently work as a tenure-track lecturer at the University of Antwerp. Together with Prof. Dr. Erik Franck, I coordinate the Leadership in Health and Care specialisation within the Master of Nursing and Midwifery and co-lead the WORC research line. I also coordinate the Interprofessional Healthcare Providers Skillslab Antwerp (IPHeSA), where I develop and organise continuing education for healthcare professionals within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.My expertise spans clinical deterioration and Rapid Response Systems, healthcare workforce planning, health system design, and the use of artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making. In addition, I contribute to national policy as a member of the Federal Council for Nursing and as an expert for the High Health Council.
Motivation
My motivation originates from my experience as an emergency nurse, where I encountered patients who suffered preventable complications that were not recognised in time. This reality drove me towards research aimed at improving early detection systems and ultimately saving lives. Today, I am driven by the dynamic connection between research, teaching, and clinical practice - transforming scientific knowledge into practical tools and policy recommendations that improve both patient outcomes and working conditions for healthcare professionals.
Research focus
My research centres on improving the early recognition of clinical deterioration in hospital settings. A key contribution is the development of the Nurse Intuition Patient Deterioration Scale (NIPDS), which translates nurses’ clinical intuition into a measurable and actionable component alongside Early Warning Scores.Beyond this, I examine how healthcare teams can be best structured and supported, focusing on skill mix, retention, and job satisfaction. My work also addresses care organisation in high-risk and infectious disease contexts, and increasingly explores the integration of machine learning and artificial intelligence into clinical decision support systems.
Teaching contributions
I contribute to eight courses within the Master of Nursing and Midwifery, both as course coordinator and co-coordinator. My teaching spans topics such as healthcare management and innovation, entrepreneurship, health policy, leadership development, advanced research methodology, and quality and patient safety. Together with Erik Franck, I am responsible for shaping and delivering the Leadership in Health and Care specialisation.
Services and collaboration
I collaborate with healthcare organisations by providing expertise on the implementation of Rapid Response Systems, Early Warning Scores, and broader approaches to detecting clinical deterioration. I also support workforce planning and the development of data-informed tools for optimal team composition. In addition, I advise on nursing and healthcare policy and contribute as a keynote speaker on topics including patient safety, nursing intuition, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and the future of the profession. My work further includes the design of interprofessional simulation training and guiding organisations in quality improvement and process optimisation initiatives.