Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us Practical matters

Staff members with discipline Health Policy & Services

Academia develops at the interface of different fields. This is one reason why the University of Groningen is home to a wide range of fields, each with a great number of subject specialists. The overview below, which is based on a standard categorization of fields, will help you find the right expert for each field. If you cannot find the expert you are looking for in this list, try searching via a related field or faculty; you may find him or her there.

Overview of all disciplines

Recovery of critical illness survivors
L.F.E. (Lise) Beumeler
No picture available
Contact
l.f.e.beumeler rug.nl
Function
Postdoc Recovery after critical illness
prof. dr. E.C. (Christiaan) Boerma, PhD
No picture available
Contact
e.c.boerma rug.nl
Function
Professor meaningful preventive care
A/Prof. Job van Boven is a real-world drug outcomes expert specialised in lung diseases. He is the founding director of the Medication Adherence Expertise Center Of the northern Netherlands (MAECON) and Chair of the European Commission funded European Network to Advance Best Practices & Technology on Medication Adherence (ENABLE) COST Action, comprising 40 countries. He leads the research group on Cost-effective Drug Use (in Dutch: Doelmatig Geneesmiddelgebruik) at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology of the University Medical Center Groningen and is Principal Investigator at the Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC) and Real World Studies in PharmacoEpidemiology, -Genetics, -Economics and -Therapy (PEGET) group of the UMCG.
He obtained his PharmD and PhD at the University of Groningen (The Netherlands), where his thesis focused on the cost-effectiveness of adherence enhancing interventions in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). After his PhD research, he completed fellowships at the University of Colorado (USA), Monash University (Australia) and the Hospital Universitario Son Espases (Spain).
He is (co)author of >150 scientific publications (H-index: 37), supervisor of 10 PhD students and received several research prices & grants (totalling>€6 million). He is Chair of the European Respiratory Society CRC on digital respiratory health "CONNECT", Chair of the Dutch respiratory pharmacists group (KNMP SIG Long), former Boardmember of the Dutch young Medicines Evaluation Board (Jong CBG), ZonMW-GGG committee member, Scientific lead of the Lung Alliance Netherlands (LAN) National Medication Adherence Program, expert research faculty at the IPCRG & EAACI, Editorial Board member of various peer-reviewed journals and has an extensive international network (e.g. ERS, IPCRG, EAACI, ISPE, REG, ESPACOMP, ISPOR).
Having interest and wide experience in both medication adherence and health economic methods, his mission is to find novel, cost-effective ways to make better, personalized use of our respiratory medications in order to maximize both patients’ and societal benefits.
Through multidisciplinary research, education and care support, he aims to provide means to accelerate implementation of drug-device technologies (digital inhalers, electronic pill bottles & blisters and smart spacers) and practical adherence monitoring & management tools (e.g. the TAI Toolkit) in daily clinical practice, to ultimately optimize patient, economic and societal outcomes.

Specialties:
- Methods & application: medication adherence, compliance, persistence, e-health, smart inhalers, bottles and spacers, digital adherence technology, (pharmaco) epidemiology, real-world drug outcomes, pharmacoeconomics, health economics, burden of disease, budget impact, health technology assessment, cost-effectiveness.
- Disease focus areas: Asthma / COPD / TB / CF/ Lung cancer  
dr. J.F.M. (Job) van Boven
No picture available
Contact
j.f.m.van.boven rug.nl
+31 50 361 7893
Function
Associate Professor
Medical Technology Assessment comprises economic evaluation in health care, ethical and legal issues as well as issues regarding implementation and reimbursement of innovative technologies.
prof. dr. E. (Erik) Buskens
No picture available
Contact
e.buskens umcg.nl
+31 50 361 4343
Function
Professor of Health Technology Assessment
Toxicology and public health studies in ethnic communities. César Yanko Cervantes Benavides is a researcher of Latin American origin, focused on vulnerability studies in indigenous groups. These vulnerabilities include social and racial segregation, the consequences of climate change, genotoxic and neurotoxic effects on human health due to the consumption of water contaminated with heavy metals, as well as the analysis of public policies developed for ethnic minorities. He is currently working at the Campus Fryslan, designing a research project on the vulnerability faced by ethnic groups in arid areas with water scarcity, following exposure to contaminants such as arsenic, due to the consumption of water contaminated by effluents from mining and agricultural activities. His study also focuses on the analysis of public health policies more oriented to the worldview of the ethnic minorities themselves. The main objective of his research is to characterize the perception of environmental risk in the Yaqui ethnic group in southern Sonora, Mexico, and to determine, through biological screening, the level of exposure to heavy metals and malnutrition experienced by ethnic minorities such as the Yaqui ethnic group.
C. (Cesar Yanko Cervantes Benavides) Cervantes Benavides, MSc
No picture available
Contact
c.cervantes.benavides rug.nl
Function
PhD student
Planning and control cyclus inside organizations
dr. B. (Ben) Crom
No picture available
Contact
b.crom rug.nl
+31 50 36 36608
Function
Assistant Professor
Research in intellectual disability care, among others: caregiving, dysphagia, interventions, sleep apnea. Specialization: Dementia in people with intellectual disabilities, in particular Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome
dr. A.D. (Alain) Dekker
No picture available
Contact
a.d.dekker umcg.nl
Function
Lecturer-researcher
prof. dr. ir. C.E.M.J. (Liset) van Dijk
No picture available
Contact
c.e.m.j.van.dijk rug.nl
Function
Honorary professor Pharmacy Health Services Research
dr. R.J. (Robbert) Duvivier
No picture available
Contact
r.j.duvivier umcg.nl
Function
senior researcher
Implementation Science Research
A. (Amal ) Fakha, MSc
No picture available
Contact
a.fakha rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor of Innovation Management & Strategy
Pharmacoeconomics and HTA (health technology assessment), with a focus on patient level modeling and model-based cost-effectiveness analyses. 
prof. dr. T.L. (Talitha) Feenstra
No picture available
Contact
t.l.feenstra rug.nl
+31 50 36 32607
Function
Associate professor, economic evaluation of precision medicine
Health Economics, Policy Evaluation, Health Technology Assessment
dr. R.D. (Roel) Freriks
No picture available
Contact
r.d.freriks rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor
Development Economics, Health Economics, Agriculture Economics

Methods
*Applied microeconomics
*Impact Evaluation
*Social network analysis
*Cost-effectiveness analysis

Topics
*Non-communicable diseases
*Health effects of climate change 
*Insurance
*Network and peer effects
M.K. (Manuela) Fritz, Dr
No picture available
Contact
m.k.fritz rug.nl
Function
Post-doc
Health economics of blood transfusion safety, hematology and infectious diseases.
dr. M. (René) van Hulst
No picture available
Contact
m.van.hulst rug.nl
Function
Associate professor Global Health Technology Assessment
Comparison of European health systems, organisation of care (public health, primary care and youth care), evaluation of care, children and adolescents, vulnerable families, medical sociology 
dr. D.E.M.C. (Danielle) Jansen
No picture available
Contact
d.e.m.c.jansen umcg.nl
+31 50 361 6675
Function
Associate professor Health systems and Organisation of care for children and adolescents
F.W.A.P. (Frederic) van Kleef, MA
No picture available
Contact
frederic.van.kleef rug.nl
Function
Managing director Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health
Field / Discipline
Medical Doctor International Health and Tropical Medicine; Management of Health Services (MBA). Public Health, in particular prevention. Current research concerns prevention of non-commmunicable diseases, cardiovacular diseases, diabetes and cervical cancer. Active in consultancy and International Technical Assistance Health and Development, especially capacity development.
drs. J.A.R. (Jaap) Koot
No picture available
Contact
j.a.r.koot umcg.nl
+31 6 2248 7689
Function
staff member department health sciences, global health unit
Health Outcome Measurement
dr. P.F.M. (Paul) Krabbe
No picture available
Contact
p.f.m.krabbe umcg.nl
+31 6 5170 1692
Function
Head Unit Patient-Centered HTA
S.J.C. (Suzanne) Kroon
No picture available
Contact
s.j.c.kroon umcg.nl
Function
Researcher / Phd student
dr. C.J. (Karine) van 't Land
No picture available
Contact
c.j.van.t.land rug.nl
Function
University lecturer
Innovations in genetic counselling, ELSI-aspects of clinical genetics and genetic screening, cardiogenetics
prof. dr. I.M. (Irene) van Langen
No picture available
Contact
i.m.van.langen umcg.nl
+31 50 361 7209
Function
Professor Clinical Genetics
Jesse David Marinus is an External PhD Candidate at Campus Fryslân, specializing in the fields of Health Policy, Social Determinants, Participatory Research, Citizens Science, Future Sciences, and Systems Theory. Currently, Jesse David is employed as a researcher at Planbureau Fryslân, where they contribute to the advancing policy- and decision-making in Fryslân. Jesse David's research interests lie in exploring the potential of participatory research and citizen science in shaping future healthcare systems. They are passionate about engaging diverse stakeholders, including community members, policymakers, and healthcare providers, to co-create sustainable and inclusive solutions for public health challenges.
No picture available
No picture available
Contact
j.d.marinus rug.nl
Function
PhD student
J.O. (Jochen) Mierau, Prof Dr
No picture available
Contact
j.o.mierau rug.nl
+31 50 361 5202
Function
Professor Public Health Economics & Academic Director UGBS - Health
dr. A.C. (Bart) Noort
No picture available
Contact
a.c.noort rug.nl
+31 6 3198 6866
Function
Assistant professor
B. (Barbara) Pavliková
No picture available
Contact
b.pavlikova umcg.nl
Function
Pharmacoeconomics, health economics, modeling
prof. dr. M.J. (Maarten) Postma
No picture available
Contact
m.j.postma rug.nl
+31 50 361 5084
Function
Professor Global Health Economics UMCG & RUG (Medical Sciences and Economics & Business)
prof. dr. E.P. (Eugène) van Puijenbroek
No picture available
Contact
e.p.van.puijenbroek rug.nl
+31 50 36 34360
Function
Professor of Pharmacovigilance
Educational Organization & Management
Workplace Learning & Organizational Learning
Change & Implementation
Professional development
Communities of practice
Medical education
N. (Nienke) Renting
No picture available
Contact
n.renting rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor
Continuous improvement in Healthcare (e.g. Lean, SixSigma), Value Based Healthcare, Healthcare Management, Change Management
dr. O.P. (Oskar) Roemeling
No picture available
Contact
o.p.roemeling rug.nl
+31 50 36 36543
Function
Assistant Professor
The research of de Rooij's group aims to improve health and health care of elderly persons by understanding the ageing [brain] process and age related diseases to improve cognitive and functional patient trajectories after acute illness.

Biological and clinical studies are combined with the construction and testing of innovative educational tools for patients and professionals [serious games & apps]. All studies have the focus on physical resilience and on prevention from or recovery of [avoidable] cognitive and functional decline after an acute event. 
Fundamental studies to elaborate on the neuroinflammatory process in the brain at cellular and structural level go hand in hand with clinical studies defining the clinical phenotype of neuroinflammation causing the clinical symptoms of delirium and leading to functional decline and accelerated cognitive decline and dementia.

To improve patient trajectories also qualitative and quantitative studies in hospitalized elderly patients are conducted. These studies try, by focussing on patient reported experience measures {socalled PREMs],  to create sound scientific evidence for innovative ways to improve the organisation of care for the most vulnerable elderly patients with acute care needs. All with a focus on supporting these patients in regaining their cognitive and physical function and to enable them to live as long as possible in their own home, or by respecting their health choices and by offering patient centred care and support in the deciosion making process.  

De Rooij and her team strongly believe in participatory action research and multidisciplinary collaboration and therefore they closely collaborate with elderly patients, their relatives and other health care professionals.   All their research is designed to have an immediate societal impact and directs towards quality improvement and not solely on gaining scientific impact. Examples are the Vitality Navigator, The Transitional Care Bridge and the Delirium Experience. These innovative health care solutions aim at supporting healthy ageing from a patient’s perspective and healthy ageing from the perspective of a high risk population.  

Currently de Rooij is preparing together with other colleagues the opening of the Alzheimer Center Groningen, the newest Alzheimer Center in the Netherlands that is not only focussing on diagnosis and therapy but also on improving the patients' care trajectory including his wellbeing after being diagnosied with dementia, and on the prevention of dementia in off-spring of patients with dementia.  
Since 2006 over 20 PhD’s have been defending their thesis based upon this research theme’s and more than 200 articles have been published. Several applications and serious games have been designed to support the impact of research on society. See also www.deliriumexperience.nl, www.seniorlines.nl, www.effectieveouderenzorg.nl, www.hospitalathome.nl, www.geriatriegroningen.nl, see also evaluations of the research on www.vmszorg.nl, www.beteroud.nl.

Follow the social media and Twitter for more news on healthy ageing from @sophiaderooij
prof. dr. S.E.J.A. (Sophia) de Rooij
No picture available
Contact
s.e.j.a.de.rooij umcg.nl
+31 50 361 3921
Function
Professor of Medicine
      Dr. Arianna Rotulo works as Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen – Campus Fryslan. She got her PhD in Primary Care and Public Health from Queen Mary University of London in May 2022 with a research project on the effects of fiscal decentralization on equitable access to healthcare services.      Arianna combines econometrics, economic geography, and the political economy of health to understand the role of healthcare services in the distribution and development of avoidable healthcare disparities. Currently she is interested in interdisciplinary research on health systems preparedness, international health governance, and degrowth. Arianna also coordinates the Global Equity and Resilient Health Systems course and teaches Principles of Economics, Statistics, and Research Methods at Campus Fryslan. Arianna is part of an international team based at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, working on the project ‘IMF and Health Care Reforms in Europe’, funded by ELIDEK. Between 2021 and 2022 Arianna acted as a consultant to the San Gallicano Institute on how to improve the welfare of the vulnerable population of Rome, within the Mi.Fa.Bene project, involving the Municipality of Rome, the Italian Ministry of Interior, and the European Commission. 
A. (Arianna) Rotulo, Dr
No picture available
Contact
a.rotulo rug.nl
Function
Spatial Planning
Environmental Policy
Well-being
Data analysis
Z. (Zeinab) Sattari Najafabadi, MSc
No picture available
Contact
z.sattari.najafabadi rug.nl
Function
Disasters; Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies; Child Protection; Crisis Management; Public Safety; Public Health
H. (Hamed) Seddighi Khavidak, PhD
No picture available
Contact
h.seddighi rug.nl
+31 58 205 5028
Function
Postdoctoral Researcher
International aspects of reproductive health care (systems), in particular Safe Motherhood
prof. dr. J. (Jelle) Stekelenburg
No picture available
Contact
j.stekelenburg umcg.nl
Function
Professor International Aspects of Reproductive Health, in particular Safe Motherhood
No picture available
No picture available
Contact
f.d.a.suryanegara umcg.nl
Function
Brigit Toebes is a legal scholar with more than twenty-five years of experience in the international standards protecting health, with a strong emphasis on the role of human rights in health promotion and disease prevention. She is Rosalind Franklin Fellow and holds the chair of health law in a global context at the Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen. Since September 2022, she is scientific director of the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health. Recent research themes include the scope and implications of global health law, the NCD pandemic and the regulation of behavioural risk factors (in particular smoking, unhealty diets, and alcohol), the regulation of vaccination, and the role of law in socio-economic health inequalities.
She is co-founder of the Groningen Centre for Health Law (former Global Health Law Groningen), which hosts around fifteen researchers focusing on various dimensions of health and human rights. She has published widely in legal, public health and multidisciplinary journals, including Human Rights Quarterly, Harvard Health and Human Rights, the BMJ, and Tobacco Control, and she participates in several international and domestic bodies (see below). Toebes has conducted research in the field of tobacco control since 2016, with a particular emphasis on developing a human rights approach. She frequently acts as a consultant to international bodies, including the WHO and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. In 2022, Brigit was awarded the Legal Specialist Award by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL). Key publications include Health and Human Rights (2022, 2e ed), Human Rights and Tobacco Control (open access), and Research Handbook on Global Health Law (2018). Contact: please send me an email.
prof. mr. dr. B.C.A. (Brigit) Toebes
No picture available
Contact
b.c.a.toebes rug.nl
+31 6 5434 1961
Function
Professor, Health Law in a Global Context; Scientific Director, Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health
Societal impact van onderzoek
Toegepast onderzoek in het zorg- en sociale domein
Medische sociologie
Onderzoek met mixed methods
dr. J. (Jolanda) Tuinstra
No picture available
Contact
j.tuinstra01 umcg.nl
+31 6 8313 7252
Function
Researcher Applied Health Research
Health Technology Assessment
dr. K.M. (Karin) Vermeulen
No picture available
Contact
k.m.vermeulen umcg.nl
+31 50 361 3562
Function
Assistant professor,HTA
Field / Discipline
Health economics, Applied microeconomics
L. (Laura) Viluma, PhD
No picture available
Contact
l.viluma rug.nl
Function
Assistant Professor of Health Economics
H.M. (Hinke) van der Werf, MSc
No picture available
Contact
h.m.van.der.werf umcg.nl
Function
Health Economics, Labour Economics, Applied Microeconometrics
dr. S. (Shuye) Yu, PhD
No picture available
Contact
shuye.yu rug.nl
Function
View this page in: Nederlands