Dr. Geert van der Sluis

Geert van der Sluis is a professor by special appointment of Peri-hospital Functioning and Participation at Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Programme Manager for Research & Innovation at Nij Smellinghe Hospital. His expertise lies at the intersection of science, practice, and education, with a focus on improving care around impactful hospital admissions to enhance patients' resilience and reserve capacity.

This research forms the foundation of his work as a professor, where he collaborates with researchers, healthcare professionals, and students to explore innovative care pathways, prehabilitation, and patient-centred value-driven care. A prime example of this is the transformation of perioperative care at Nij Smellinghe, based on the principles of appropriate care and data-driven learning. This resulted in improved patient outcomes, greater engagement among healthcare professionals, and a more efficient healthcare system.

One of Geert’s key strengths is his ability to connect and collaborate effectively. He approaches his work with enthusiasm, vision, knowledge, and passion. As a professor, he sees it as his mission to strengthen the link between education, research, and practice to further develop value-driven healthcare.

Geert’s mission as a professor is to contribute to value-driven healthcare. This means not only focusing on curing illnesses but also helping patients regain their lives after hospitalisation. He firmly believes that prehabilitation—where patients prepare physically and mentally for surgery—should become an integral part of modern healthcare.

His work revolves around key themes such as equal opportunities, healthy lifestyles, and appropriate care. His research assignment focuses on reducing temporary or permanent loss of physical and mental functions in patients due to hospital admissions. Additionally, Geert is motivated to further explore complex healthcare financing challenges, working alongside experts to develop innovative solutions.

Interprofessional collaboration is essential to high-quality care, and throughout his career, the partnership between nurses and physiotherapists has played a crucial role. As a professor, he aims to strengthen this collaboration even further by bringing together knowledge, professionals, and healthcare domains to build better healthcare in the northern region.

Geert’s research ambitions centre on translating scientific knowledge into practice while actively involving patients in their recovery process. Through interprofessional collaboration and value-driven healthcare, he strives to enhance the quality of healthcare and improve patient well-being.