Mark Broekman

Mark Broekman is one of a group of medical students taking a degree in Medical Sciences (MD) while combining this with working for a PhD: the so-called MD/PhD programme. After taking the Bachelor’s honours programme (the ‘Junior Scientific Master class’), in the first year of his Master’s degree, Mark devised a PhD research project proposal, which was honoured bij the Graduate School. This project, which was implemented in the abdominal surgery departments of the UMCG and the Meander Medical Center Amersfoort, focuses on predicting and detecting ‘anastomotic leakage’, a serious complication that can occur after surgically removing a malignant tumour in the large intestine. This can happen if the stitches made during surgical repair of the intestine do not seal effectively. Mark tackled this research project with enthusiasm and efficiency. In addition to personal MD/PhD funding (granted by the Graduate School), he also acquired extra funding from the ‘De Cock-Haddersstichting’, the ‘Meanderstichting’ and the ‘Prof. Michaelfonds’. Until now, he has written seven articles on his findings, but this is only the start. Mark had to hold his pitch online, because he was in Oslo at the time, discussing the details of a new project as part of a continued partnership with Akershus University Hospital in Norway. In his clear, enthusiastic pitch, he explained the new opportunities presented by using MRI images can show and measure how far colorectal cancer has grown through the intestinal wall and whether surrounding structures are involved. This ‘staging’ is important in order to start the right therapy. While answering questions from the jury, Mark demonstrated his knowledge and his thorough understanding of his subject.

Before starting his degree programme, Mark was a successful speed skater (KNSB: ‘elite sport talent status’, NOC*NSF). Also, as stated in his own words, he used his time at the university ‘as broadly and consciously as he could’. For him, this meant taking part in the ‘Summer School on Paediatrics’ in 2020, being an active member of the anniversary and foreign trip committee of the Panacea study association, and occupying various positions within ISCOMS (the large-scale, successful annual ‘International Student Congress of (Bio)Medical Sciences’ in Groningen). He also acted as chair of ‘Team North’ within the Arts & Organization Foundation, and served as chair of the Benefietdiner Isala Foundation. Last but not least, he is ‘Track-lid ongevraagd advies’ in the ‘The West Wing’, a young people’s think tank run by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which has the task of providing independent advice about Dutch foreign policy.