Albert Scherpbier, MD, PhD
Function: Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences
Email: a.scherpbier@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Medical career
Albert Scherpbier is Professor of Quality Promotion in Medical Education. Albert Scherpbier received his medical degree from the University of Groningen and his PhD from Maastricht University for his dissertation on the effects of skills training in the Maastricht Skillslab. After heading the Skillslab from 1991 to 1999, he was appointed scientific director of the Education Institute of the Maastricht Faculty of Medicine and professor of quality promotion in medical education. After a merger between the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Health Sciences the Institute expanded and he became its director. In 2007 Queen Beatrix awarded him the title of Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau for his contribution to medical education. In 2009 he became Dean of Education of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. In 2011 he became Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences.
Medical expertise
His key interests in medical education are quality assurance, professionalisation of medical education, career prospects for medical teachers, involvement of medical students in improving the quality of education, and medical education research. He has published extensively on medical education (research) and was editor of the Dutch Journal of Medical Education for 20 years. He also has been very active in the board of the Dutch Federation for Medical Education as secretary and chairperson. He teaches courses on medical education research for the Maastricht School of Health Professions Education, supervises national and international PhD students and has been a consultant to medical schools in various countries, including Indonesia, Uganda, Nepal and Ghana.
Curriculum innovation
He has been a driving force for curriculum innovation aimed at promoting integration of basic science and clinical science and teaching in realistic contexts. Maastricht recently introduced a graduate entry medical curriculum aimed at training doctors specialised in translational research and has launched an international track in medicine in September 2009. The programmes in Health Sciences and Biomedical Sciences will all be innovated from September 2010. Professor Scherpbier is also involved in innovations in postgraduate specialist training.He published around 170 papers in international peerreviewed journals, 100 papers in national journals and around 70 chapters in books and conference proceedings.
