- Reference: 2511
- Apply before: 30 June 2025
Breaking ground as a doctor-specialist in training
UZ Leuven (University Hospitals Leuven) has about 2000 beds and profiles itself as a European centre for top medicine, development medicine and clinical research. The anaesthesiology department has a high level of clinical activity and features modern infrastructure with all modern forms of anaesthesia monitoring in an operating theatre environment that was recently completely renovated (2018). Around 60,000 anaesthesia procedures are performed annually in operating theatres, delivery rooms, and various locations outside the operating theatre. All possible techniques are utilised. The anaesthesiology department also has a chronic pain centre.
There are several openings for a full anaesthesiology training programme with employment rates of 80–90% or 100%. If you wish to work full-time the training takes five years: three to four years at UZ Leuven, one or two years at a collaborating training centre and possibly one year at a Dutch training centre. This programme also comprises one year at an intensive care unit and an emergency care unit.
If you only seek an 80% or 90% employment rate, the training, by law, is extended by one year or six months, respectively. The programme respects all official Belgian and Flemish accreditation criteria. On completion of the training programme you will be an accredited anaesthesiologist and you will be able to work as an anaesthesiologist in all countries of the European union. Every year, five to ten non-Belgian doctors complete their specialist training at our centre.
During the training programme you will learn all relevant anaesthesia techniques, be given a strong theoretical background, acquire basic competency in emergency medicine and intensive care, and learn the principles of chronic pain management. The programme covers the full spectrum of surgical and non-surgical pathology.
Interest in research is an added value.
How will you break ground?
- Clinical: You will perform anaesthesia under supervision, gradually progressing to more autonomous practice.
- Organisational: In consultation with your supervisor, you manage your operating theatre.
- Training: In addition to direct case-related bedside teaching, you show a strong interest and actively engage in theoretical education organised by the department. You are a student at KU Leuven and, upon completion, will receive a Master-after-Master degree in Specialist Medicine. During your specialisation, you will follow a series of theoretical courses, simulation-based education, and practical courses (including point-of-care ultrasound).
- You also need to complete a master's thesis which needs to be finalised before the end of the training programme.
- On-call duties: You will be on-call pro rata the employment percentage.
- During the training, you must pass the first (theoretical) part of the "European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Examination (EDAIC)" and an objective structured clinical examination (SCE).
What qualifications do you need?
- You need to be recognised as a basic medical practitioner in a European country and obtain equivalence of your medical degree in Belgium (a straightforward administrative procedure for European degrees).
- You speak one of the three official Belgian languages (Dutch, French, or German) at C1 level and are willing to learn Dutch in the short term if you are not a Dutch speaker.
- You show strong teamwork skills and are willing to work constructively with your direct anaesthesiology colleagues and colleagues from other disciplines to offer high-standard patient care in a positive spirit.
- You attend (inter)national conferences in the field of anaesthesiology to stay up-to-date.
- You follow the clinical and theoretical training programme to become an anaesthesiologist and will actively contribute to the training of nurses and students.
What do you get in return?
- A challenging, varied, and comprehensive training programme featuring a wide range of interesting pathologies (including thoracic and abdominal organ transplantation and a significant paediatric case load). A pleasant atmosphere with a young, dynamic, and motivated team.
- You will be trained in all modern anaesthetic techniques, including advanced regional anaesthesia. We are an international fellowship centre for regional anaesthesia (recognised by the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia & Pain Therapy), obstetric anaesthesia, and cardiothoracic vascular anaesthesia (accredited by the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care).
- You will learn about all modalities of perioperative monitoring (e.g., neuromonitoring, cardiac output monitoring) and perioperative imaging (echocardiography, etc.).
- You will be compensated in accordance with the doctor-specialist in training status.
Ready to break ground?
Email your letter of application with curriculum vitae to marc.vandevelde@uzleuven.be (Prof. dr. Marc Van de Velde, training coordinator) and to steffen.Rex@uzleuven.be (Prof. dr. Steffen Rex, department head anaesthesiology) and specify reference number 2511.
For more information about this job offer please contact Prof. Dr. Marc Van de Velde at marc.vandevelde@uzleuven.be or Prof. dr. Steffen Rex at steffen.Rex@uzleuven.be.