Qatar University’s College of Medicine (QU-CMED), as part of its medicine seminars series, hosted a session by Prof Maurice Zeegers, director of Caphri, the School for Public Health and Primary Care of Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
The seminar came as part of the memorandum of standing signed last year between QU and Maastricht University that established medical education and research collaboration, and staff and student exchanges.
The event was open to students, academics, practitioners and researchers in the fields of medicine and healthcare. It was an opportunity for attendees - especially health practitioners and academics to gain insight into the medical research scene in The Netherlands in general, and within Maastricht University in
particular.
Prof Zeegers provided information on the Caphri Research Institute, Maastricht University’s largest research institute which focuses on healthcare innovation and public health research, and conducts multidisciplinary research addressing the complete healthcare chain from prevention and primary care to aftercare and rehabilitation.
Seminar attendees learned about the institute’s research which is discipline- and theme-oriented.
Prof Zeegers provided details about the institute’s research faculty body and the various academic and research areas which include family medicine, epidemiology, methodology and statistics, international health, health promotion, health services research, orthopaedic surgery, rehabilitation, social medicine and ethics.
He also touched on the institute’s focus on societal relevance, as well as its attraction for top scientists from around the world.
The forum was moderated by QU vice president for medical education and CMED dean Dr Egon Toft.
He said, “Professor Zeegers’ visit is of particular relevance at this time not only because it strengthens existing collaboration between the College of Medicine and Maastricht University but also in the build-up to boosting the college’s research agenda and solidifying the university-hospital
partnership with HMC.”
Prof Zeegers holds many accomplishments in addition to his current position at Caphri. These include honorary professor in epidemiology at Huiyang People’s Hospital (China) and the universities of Birmingham (UK) and Leuven (Belgium); vice chair of the board of European Epidemiological Federation; chair of the International Association for Law and Epidemiology; editorial board member of several scientific journals; and member/chair of several committees for advice, review or inspection.