"Scientific studies – including those from Amsterdam UMC – have shown that just like all living creatures, human beings are sensitive to their environment, particularly during periods of rapid growth and development,” says Roseboom.
In this role Roseboom will be responsible for ensuring that the interests of future generations are taken into consideration into our decisions and actions. With the appointment of a Future Generations Commissioner, Amsterdam UMC gives concrete substance to a future-oriented ambition in each of its core tasks: health care, research, training and societal impact with which Amsterdam UMC wants to make a positive contribution to the society of today and tomorrow.
"We can see that the well-being of current and future generations rests on our willingness to take action. With our decisions and actions, we shape the world in which future generations will grow up. We owe it to them to articulate the legacy we wish to leave behind and the foundations we want to lay for future generations in order for them to develop to their full potential,” adds Roseboom.
Amsterdam UMC wishes to seize the opportunities presented by science for the benefit of people and the planet. Something which is not only morally responsible but also financially responsible.
"We are often busy treating diseases that originated decades earlier. Actually, we stick very expensive band-aids, for problems that we could have partially or completely prevented. By taking into account the consequences for children who have yet to be born, we will not only prevent personal suffering, but we can also slow down the growing pressure on the healthcare system," says Roseboom.
In her role as Future Generations Commissioner, Roseboom also signed, on behalf of Amsterdam UMC in April, the Manifesto for Future Generations to the Dutch Parliament. Watch the video here (in Dutch): Rekening houden met toekomstige generaties (youtube.com)
A Commitment to a Healthy Future
When it comes to healthcare, we cannot only invest in more ‘care capacity’ as societies needs for care will increase to grow if we do not at the same time also invest in public health and preventing disease. We need to prioritize the long term goal of sustainable health and health care, we need to educate future health care professionals in such a way that they can contribute to health, not merely treat disease, we need to make a strategy for the future of Amsterdam UMC that considers our responsibility in contributing to public health and sustainability through science so that also in the future, the people who need care can get access to care, that our employees can continue to work in a sustainable way and that we serve society through science and contribute to a world in which every human beings gets a fair chance to a healthy life.
This is Amsterdam UMC's commitment to health, now and in the future. We recognize that the well-being of current and future generations and the sustainability of our planet rests on our willingness to take action. We therefore pledge to take action to contribute to the health of current and future generations. This action plan of hope and courage is for now and tomorrow, for the young and future generations, allowing the older generation to leave the legacy of a world worth living in.
We seize the opportunities presented by science, technology and innovation for the benefit of people and the planet.
We will invest in our capital: our people. This includes our patients, our colleagues, our students and visitors. We want to create a welcoming, safe, healthy and sustainable environment. We foster learning and trust. We want to reflect the diversity of our home city, and we celebrate diversity and inclusion.
We invest in a safe space for learning. We recognize that we learn through experimentation, which means that failing is part of our learning journey. We value the learning process and create the environment for diversity in learning strategies. We invest in learning for all, particularly our students, who will be future leaders and health professionals, so they can reach their full potential.
We serve healthy food, in order to contribute to health, and a sustainable planet. We actively strive to reduce waste and contribute to sustainability. We strengthen meaningful participation, in forming our strategy, as well as in our core tasks, health care, research, education and valorisation. We investigate Future Design as a method to include the interests of future generations in our decisions. We share our insights with colleagues, policymakers, professionals and the public to allow others to contribute to health in their settings (be they in hospital, policy, public health or private settings).
