Jan Van Zundert
Voorzitter/ Chair of sections WIP World
Fellow in international Pain (FIPP) certificate in 2001 and chair of sections WIP world since 2023.
Prof. Dr. Jan Van Zundert is anesthesiologist and chair of the Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg (ZOL), Genk/Lanaken, Belgium. He is also Professor Pain Medicine at the Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
He graduated in Medicine (MD) in 1990 at the KU Leuven, Belgium and completed a 5 years residency in anesthesiology and reanimation at the University hospital Antwerp (UZA). Additional specialization in pain medicine at the Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands in 1995.
He obtained his PhD at the Maastricht University with the thesis: “The use of pulsed radiofrequency in the treatment of chronic pain”.
He authored more than 150 publications in PubMed indexed journals. He was (co)author of 42 book chapters with an Hirsh factor of 33. He holds functions in the editorial board of several journals and is the editor of the Dutch and English version of the guidelines “Evidence based interventional pain medicine according to clinical diagnoses”.
His research interests focus on clinical and translational research in interventional pain medicine. He is a member of several national and international associations for anesthesiology and pain medicine.
Martine Puylaert
Executive voorzitter
Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certificate from the World Institute of Pain (WIP) since 2003.
She works as a staff member in the anaesthesiology department and in the multidisciplinary pain center of the Hospital Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium and also has a consultancy at Maastricht University Medical Center for cancer pain treatments.
She is a member of the board of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux since 2015 and executive president since 2019. Furthermore, Dr. Puylaert is active in teaching as the director of the Dutch FIPP preparation cadaver course in Nijmegen. She is also an examiner at the FIPP exams from the World Institute of Pain.
Koen Van Boxem
Ondervoorzitter België
Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certificate from the World Institute of Pain (WIP) since 2002.
In 2018 he obtained the European Diploma Pain Medicine (EDPM) from the European Pain Federation (EFIC).
He is vice-president of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux and since 2018 member of the educational committee of this world-wide organization.
From 2018 until 2023 he was the president of the Vlaamse Anesthesiologische Vereniging voor Pijnbestrijding (VAVP) in Belgium. Since 2024 he is member of the board of the Belgian Pain Society.
He is also examiner for the European Diploma in Pain Medicine (EFIC).
Karolina Szadek
Ondervoorzitter Nederland
Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certificate from the World Institute of Pain (WIP) since 2016.
She works as a staff member in the anaesthesiology department in Amsterdam.
Dr. Szadek has received her PhD “Sacroiliac joint pain, anatomy, diagnosis and treatment.” She is involved in an update of international guidelines to diagnose and treat SI joint pain. She is a consultant in benign and cancer pain, and palliative care. Also she is a member of neuromodulation team of Amsterdam UMC.
She is a member of the board of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux since 2023 and acts as vice-president.
Barbara Persoons
Penningmeester
Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certificate from the World Institute of Pain (WIP) since 2022.
She works as a staff member in the anaesthesiology department and in the multidisciplinary pain center of the Hospital AZ Turnhout, Belgium.
She is a member of the board of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux since 2023 and acts as treasurer.
Sandra Vandenheuvel
Secretaris
Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) certificate from the World Institute of Pain (WIP) since 2014.
She works as a staff member in the anaesthesiology department in Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Dr. van den Heuvel has obtained her PhD on modulation of mechanisms and improving diagnosis of cancer-related pain. Additionally, she is focussing on neuropathy (peripheral) due to various causes and transition from acute to chronic postoperative pain. Her lectures mainly focus on her research topics. She is involved in curricular development in KCMC Tanzania and guideline development on acute postoperative pain.
She is a member of the board of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux since 2023 and acts as secretary.
Remko Liebregts
Secretaris
Dr. Liebregts is an Fellow in Interventional Pain (FIPP), certified since 2013 by the World Institute of Pain (WIP).
He also earned his Certified Interventional Pain Sonologist (CIPS) certification in 2022. He is secretary of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux.
Dr. Liebregts is a senior staff member at the Anesthesiology Department and Multidisciplinary Pain Centre at Amsterdam University Medical Center (VUMC), with a specialized focus on oncological and ultrasound-guided pain management. He is an examiner and instructor for the WIP’s FIPP and CIPS exams and lends his expertise to several other international organizations, including Sonoskill and londonforum, where he is an instructor in ultrasound-guided pain interventions.
He is a member of the board of the World Institute of Pain section Benelux since 2010 and acts as secretary.