Why did you apply for a job at Health?

I was offered a professorship at the Research Center for Emergency Medicine at the Department of Clinical Medicine, which is something unique - at least, it is not something we have in the Netherlands. That piqued my interest because I believe it is important to have a dedicated research center focused solely on emergency medicine. Additionally, I was at a point in my life where I was considering new opportunities.

How does Health differ from your previous workplace?

A major strength of Health is that it has a center like the one I am affiliated with, and I believe the Netherlands should consider establishing something similar. Regarding the work environment and culture at the department and the center, there are many similarities between Health and Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, where I also continue to work. This includes the absence of hierarchy and the same sense of humor.

What do you value most in your professional life?

Adding value to emergency department patients through my research. That is the absolute most important thing for me in my academic career. Also, enjoying the fact that science is a social game. I highly appreciate the strong collaborative environment in Aarhus and the unique opportunity to research emergency medicine at a dedicated research center. It cannot be emphasized enough how important that is.

What is the best part of working at Health?

The best part of my job is that every day I go to work happy, doing what I love most - conducting good science and collaborating with my fantastic colleagues. We have a really good work environment at the Research Center for Emergency Medicine, which is evident, for example by the fact that we celebrate successes (we have a bell we are allowed to ring if we have published a paper or received a grant) and socialize outside work. The absence of hierarchy facilitates discussion and sharing of ideas among junior researchers, doctors, nurses and faculty.

Do you have a favorite place at Health?

The meeting room at the Research Center for Emergency Medicine is probably my favorite place on campus. Not because the room itself is anything special, but because it is where we hold meetings and have lunch together. So, I think it’s the setting for what I value so much that makes it my favorite place. It’s the people in the room who are important to me.

What have you brought with you from your previous workplace/your home country?

I have brought the mindset that science is a social game. And I am very inspired by Pippi Longstocking’s famous quote: “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that”. That is the essence of science - you start by not knowing, then you investigate, and then you know.

I believe this quote is quite defining for my role as a professor—it is what I always return to and remind myself of when something is difficult or does not go as planned or desired. I have an unwavering belief that, together with my talented colleagues, I can achieve a lot in research and make a difference for patients.

What do you wish you had known before starting your current position at Health?

I am not sure if it would have made a difference if I had known in advance. But I have been surprised by how difficult life is without a CPR number (Danish personal identification number).

I commute between Amsterdam and Aarhus, spending about 25 percent of my time working in Denmark and the remaining 75 percent in the Netherlands, where my family lives. Typically, I spend six weeks in the Netherlands, two weeks in Denmark, and so on, which has presented some logistical challenges like applying for funding and getting the newsletter from the organization from which I rent an apartment.

Contact

Professor Bas de Groot
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Research Center for Emergency Medicine
Email: bas.degroot@radboudumc.nl ; bdg@clin.au.dk