Prof Dr Marjolein Drent (M.)

Prof. Marjolein Drent studied physical therapy at the Arnhem Academy of Physical Therapy, the Netherlands (NL); she graduated in 1979. She finished her medical study in 1988 at the Catholic University of Nijmegen, NL. In 1988 she started her training in Internal Medicine at the Rijnstate Hospital (Arnhem, NL). In 1993 she completed her thesis entitled: ‘Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in interstitial lung diseases.’ After she finished her training as a pulmonologist at the Saint Antonius Hospital (Nieuwegein, NL) in 1994 she was appointed at the Department of Respiratory Medicine of the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), NL, from 1994 to 2012. In December 2005 she was appointed as Professor of interstitial lung diseases (ild). Her oration was entitled: ‘Breathtaking inspirations…’.

Currenlty, she is pulmonologist at the the ILD Center of Excellence, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

She collaborates with international ild experts. She is the past president of the WASOG (World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous diseases; see www.wasog.org). She is Chief Editor of Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine. She is associate editor of Sarcoidosis Vasculitis and Diffuse Lung Diseases. She is a co-editor of the Monograph ‘Sarcoidosis’ of the Eur Respir J together with Prof. U. Costabel. She is guest editor together with prof. R.P. Baughman of the Clinics in Chest Medicine issue on Sarcoidosis. She is a co-editor ad guest editor of several sarcoidosis issues of international journals. She is a reviewer of many international journals. She (co-) authored over 300 papers and book chapters. She is number 5 on the list World’s Top specialist in Sarcoidosis research the last 10 years. Furthermore, she is concerned with several educational assignments, organisation of postgraduate courses and clinical trials. She was a member of many scientific and steering committees of national and international conferences, an invited speaker and a chair at these meetings. In 2011 she organized the second combined 10th WASOG Meeting and the 12th International Conference on BAL in Maastricht, NL. She collaborates with international centres famous for ild and related disorders. In this respect, she is adjunct senior scientist of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI), Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

She is the founder and chair of the ild care (interstitial lung diseases including sarcoidosis and lung diseases related to occupation and environment management and research) foundation (see www.ildcare.nl). Furthermore, she is concerned with several educational assignments and organisation of postgraduate courses. The ild care research team participated in several international trials aimed to improve the therapeutic approach of patients suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or sarcoidosis. She was involved in various clinical trials as a principal investigator.

She is a honorary member of Sarcoidose.nl (Dutch Sarcoidosis Patient Society) and founder and a member of the advisory board of the Dutch Pulmonary Fibrosis Society. In 2007 she received the Novartis Pulmonology award. This was awarded by a national jury because of her dedication to achieve improvement of the quality of life of patients. She was selected as the leading physician of 2011 as well as 2012 by her colleague Dutch pulmonary doctors. In 2012 she was nominated for the ‘World Sarcoidosis Person of the Year Award’ for her tireless research work in defining the psychological burden faced by patients and their families. Dublin, Ireland. 15-11-12.This award is selected by patients of the Irish Sarcoidosis Support Network (ISarc).

She is ambassador for Compassion for Care and the youth smoking prevention foundation.

She was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau by Royal Decree. This royal honor was awarded on 13-10-2016 by the deputy mayor of Ede, NL.