Starting as a photographer, Robert studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam. He got his PhD in post-graduate medical e-learning at the beta faculty of the VU University in Amsterdam. He is now a consulting gynaecologist in the Amsterdam University Hospital, specialising in minimally invasive, robotic and endometriosis surgery.
Medical Specializations
Robert is currently working at the Amsterdam UMC as a consulting gynaecologist.
He is specialized in: cesarean scar defects (niche), myoma’s, adenomyosis and endometriosis. He performs minimally invasive, robot-assisted and transgender surgery for the Uterine Repair Center.
Research & Publications
Apart from clinical responsibilities, he is also a researcher. His research has spanned two specific areas: digital education (eLearning) and studies concerning innovative clinical research in uterine disorders and eHealth.
On digital education, we have started with two reviews determining which outcomes are used in medical eLearning and which factors are mentioned as most relevant in the effectiveness of eLearning. We then tested those factors with focus group discussions and an international Delphi. Based on a final series of effectiveness factors, we formulated an eLearning development model and validated an instructional design survey. To get more insight into factors that influence the implementation we performed a thematic analysis. Finally, we performed a randomized controlled trial, evaluating face-to-face information provision with a digital variant.
Next to educational research, we have spanned quantitative and qualitative studies in benign gynaecology. I am currently learning three big randomized controlled clinical trials comparing a surgical technique with expective management for cesarean scar defects (niches). We have published several international Delphi’s on ultrasound techniques and definitions for adenomyosis, niches, and niche pregnancies.
Medical Educator
His educational efforts mainly focus on digital skills education and researching important questions about the efficiency and place of eLearning and the ideal study outcomes in education. You can find some of his eLearnings on www.gynaecologyonline.com.
CEO of IDEACT
Robert is the co-owner and CEO of an ICT company IDEACT.
IDEACT aims to support and advance medical research through ICT. So much time is spent in methods and statistics, so little time is spent in logistics. How do you get the best follow-up from as many participants as possible, with as little effort from the principal investigator as possible. We try to achieve this through several IT products such as:
Research Survey: a research questionnaire and smartphone application platform.
Forever Stories: life-story environment.