July 1, 2011
Dirk Ruwaard leads new department of Health Services Research
'Merger process was successful and positive'
Health Services Research - this is the name of the new department, formed out of the merger between the two CAPHRI departments of Health Care and Nursing Science; and Health Organisation, Policy and Economics. Chronic care and ageing are the important research and education themes of this new department.
It is headed by Dirk Ruwaard, former director of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (WWS). He took office in January and was recently appointed Professor of Public Health and Health Care Innovation at CAPHRI. In the past six months Ruwaard led the merger process, which is now finalised. ‘The merger process was successful and positive. I got a lot of support from former department chairs and other people involved’, says Ruwaard. He says there clearly were two different cultures. ‘We're well on our way to maintaining the positive elements of both cultures in the new department.’ To encourage this, various work groups were established internally for, among other things, publicising a bi-weekly newsletter, organising PR activities and setting up seminars. There is also a true Integration Committee.
Ruwaard says the multidisciplinary character of the new department is very important. ‘After all, the ageing process and the resulting increase in elderly people with more diseases requires a multidisciplinary approach’, says the new professor. ‘We would also like to draw in research questions which can be approached from various disciplines.’
Education will also get all the attention within the new department. ‘We aim to widen the existing target group for education and in addition, to create new target groups, for instance by giving more shape to post-academic education. ’Finally, two brainstorm clubs were established internally - one for education and one for research. Various people are represented in both brainstorm clubs. ‘Because’, concludes Ruwaard, ‘we must use each other's knowledge a lot more.’ In his oration, Ruwaard will further explain the course of the department and the content of his chair.
Also read the interview with Dirk Ruwaard that was held shortly after his arrival in January this year
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