Specialization
Focus of research
I am the first Dutch midwife who became professor in the Netherlands, in Midwifery Science. I have experience in quantitative and qualitative research into organisation of care and quality of midwifery care. In addition, I work as a practising primary care midwife in Amsterdam.
I am the first author of large cohort studies into the safety of primary care and home birth for which she received a prestigeous career grant (VENI). I was the project leader of a large stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial into the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of routine ultrasound in the third trimester of pregnancy in terms of reducing severe adverse perinatal outcomes. The Royal Dutch Academy of Science (KNAW) granted a proposal for an academic colloquium in which experts from across the world discussed current insights into the screening and management of growth restriction and directions for policy and future research. I was also the project leader of INCAS (integrated care system) and of the SWING study into integrated maternity care.
Currently, I lead the Continuity of Midwifery Care (COMIC) study with the aim of implementing continuous care by midwives and the Variation in Organisation of Integrated Care (VOICE) study in which we examine essential elements of integrated care for improving outcomes and experiences of women.