Maarten is a medical student and is committed to using a range of methods to integrate sustainability and climate care into medical education and healthcare. He does this through his position as a student member within the Radboud GreenTeam Education, which consists of a number of healthcare and climate professionals and experts from Radboudumc and Radboud University, and the Act4Health climate group, which is part of the Dutch chapter of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations - The Netherlands (IFMSA-NL).
Last year, he played a major role in the creation of the Planetary Health elective course. From the 2022-2023 academic year onwards, this course will be offered to students from the Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Dentistry study programmes.
Within the scope of IFMSA-NL’s Act4Health working group, he is committed to making healthcare in the Netherlands more sustainable. Here, in contact with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, he contributed to the integration of a focus on climate change in medical education and the development of the Handvatten Planetary Health in het Medisch Onderwijs (Planetary Health in Medical Education Guidelines).
The pioneering role he has played in sustainability matters has drawn attention, as has his motivated and positive attitude. As a result, he continues to inspire both fellow students and staff at Radboud University and Radboud university medical center.
About the Radboud Student Award
Each year, the Executive Board awards the Radboud Student Award to one or two students or student collectives. The prize is awarded to students ‘who, aside from their academic achievements, have distinguished themselves in a unique way that has also benefited Radboud University through the highly commendable manner in which they have successfully undertaken administrative activities; or who have fulfilled a pioneering role in the formulation or development of student policies; or who, in the interest of student groups, have fulfilled quite an extraordinary role within the scope of student associations’. Winners of the Radboud Student Award will receive a certificate and a cash prize of €500.00.
