I have always had multiple roles: that of academic, advisor, researcher and policy maker. Before my academic career, I have many years of experience as consultant to the pharmaceutical, device and diagnostics industry. During that period I have done health economic research in about 20 different countries in various medical domains. In addition to my function as health-economist at the UGent, I am also an advisor at Vintura. In that role I advise international Life Sciences organizations and support them in complex Market Access challenges.
I am always focused on finding solution, thereby applying an analytical approach. Moreover, I have built of a large network and government and industry both see me as a credible partner. In serious conversations I believe it is important to apply humor to draw attention to topics that truly matter. I like to debate about how healthcare can improve and thereby touch upon the solutions for the serious problems in this sector.
I have been married for more than 30 years now with Christel, en we have 4 grown up children and even already a granddaughter. In my (limited) leisure time I enjoy biking with my friends and writing music. Through my work as a professor of health economics and recently the economics of happiness I try to aim for a more just healthcare system and society.