Specialization
Rehabilitation Medicine, Human Movement Sciences, Physiotherapy
Focus of research
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Amsterdam UMC. My research focuses on advancing rehabilitation and allied health care by developing, scientifically validating, and implementing interventions that improve functioning and quality of life for people with complex health conditions and care needs. Within rehabilitation, ‘complex care’ refers to care for individuals who face multiple, interacting challenges that affect their functioning. These challenges require tailored interventions, close interdisciplinary coordination and continuous adjustment to changing needs and goals.
A central focus of my work is on patients around the time of hospitalization. I concentrate particularly on rehabilitation for people with cancer, with a special emphasis on peri-operative care. I also focus on people with musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. While these groups represent key areas of interest, my research is not limited to these populations. It also extends to people with other chronic and complex health conditions with a need for rehabilitation care.
One of my main research themes is enhancing functioning, recovery, and long-term health in rehabilitation through physical activity and exercise, increasingly combined with nutrition. I also study self-management, behaviour change, and the role of technology in supporting these processes. Another important theme is strengthening the clinical reasoning of allied health professionals when working with complex health conditions and care demands.
My work increasingly integrates digital health innovations and explores the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance rehabilitation care. This includes the use of remote monitoring, AI-driven feedback, and decision-support systems. I am particularly interested in how Generative AI and machine learning can bridge the gap between data, clinical reasoning, and patient-centered communication.
I have extensive experience designing, conducting, and supervising clinical trials, cohort studies, and systematic literature reviews. More recently, I have increasingly focused on implementation research, aiming to translate scientific knowledge into everyday clinical practice. I strongly value collaboration between patients, practitioners, and researchers, and I actively promote the integration of research findings into both clinical care and education. Throughout my work, I apply the principles of Team Science by collaborating across disciplines, professions, and settings to address complex challenges in rehabilitation.