Role and expertise
I am a nurse by training and currently serve as education coordinator within the Master of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Antwerp, focusing on management, innovation, and leadership in healthcare. I am also affiliated with the WORC research line as a researcher and PhD candidate.My expertise centres on quality management and improvement, operational excellence, and leadership, with a particular emphasis on clinical leadership. I have developed this expertise through hands-on experience in an acute hospital setting, where I worked in roles such as staff member, change manager, and quality coordinator of a care programme.
Motivation
My professional experience has shown me that the quality of team collaboration is a decisive factor in achieving excellence in healthcare. I am driven to support organisations and teams in embedding continuous improvement into everyday practice - ensuring that quality is not merely a formal requirement, but a lived reality. My work focuses on translating scientific insights into practical, achievable improvements that make a tangible difference for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Research focus
My PhD research explores how contextual factors and team competencies influence quality improvement in nursing teams. I study how these elements contribute to the development of a mature culture of continuous improvement and to the effectiveness of improvement initiatives. A key part of my work involves developing and validating measurement tools to assess these factors and to better understand how teams can achieve sustainable improvements within their organisational setting.Early findings underline the need for leadership at every level—from strategic leadership to frontline clinical practice.
Teaching contributions
As education coordinator, I contribute to multiple courses within the Master of Nursing and Midwifery, focusing on management, innovation, and leadership. I also support students as a placement coach, primarily within the Leadership in Health and Care specialisation, guiding them in translating theory into practice.
Services and collaboration
I collaborate with healthcare organisations to strengthen cultures of continuous improvement and servant leadership. I facilitate leadership development programmes, support teams in change processes, and help organisations implement sustainable quality improvements. In addition, I provide lectures and workshops on clinical leadership, quality management, continuous improvement, and change management, always with a strong focus on practical applicability.