Organising Committee 2024

Coordinators

• Prof.dr. Henri G.D. Leuvenink
• Dr. C. Moers

• Dr. H. Hartog – Faculty of Medical Sciences

Student Committee

Nola

Hi everyone! My name is Nola and I'm a master medical student currently doing clinical internships at the University Medical Centre Groningen. I originally come from Split, Croatia and I moved to the Netherlands four years ago to study medicine. Next to medicine, I also enjoy making music, working out and traveling whenever I can!

This is my third year at the committee, and after having two amazing years as a treasurer, I will be taking upon the role of Chair this year. I enjoy being part of this committee as we always have a lot of fun together, as well as during the summer school with all of the participants!

Ever since I moved to Groningen, I have always heard great things about the transplantation program in UMCG. Aware of the great impact it has on the care of patients, I decided to take part in the committee in order to learn more about it. In the last two and a half years I have gotten an even better understanding of the impressive work being done at the hospital and the dedication of medical professionals making it all possible!

I’m very much looking forward to organizing another summer school and meeting all of you in June! :)

Bellefleur

Hi everyone! I’m Bellefleur and I’m a fourth-year medical student living in Groningen currently doing my medical internships at the UMCG. I also did some extracurricular courses on biomedical engineering and philosophy. In my free time, I like to play sports, like field hockey, padel, running and cycling. You can find me often in the mountains to go hiking and skiing! I also love to meet with friends, cook with a good glass of wine on the side, read a book, drink really good coffee and travel to explore other cultures!

This year, I have the role of vice-chair. It is my second year in the committee and I look forward to organizing this event with my committee members!

The UMCG has a special focus on transplantation medicine, which I think is really amazing. The reason why I’m very interested in this specific discipline, is that it is an innovative field of medicine that is still evolving. The combination of both technological improvements and ethical dilemmas that arise from those improvements, intrigue me very much. I look forward to meeting you all, as you hopefully share my passion for transplantation medicine. We are going to have a really good time and learn a lot from each other!

Silke

Hi! I'm Silke and I'm a fourth-year medical student, currently finishing my master's thesis at the University of Groningen. I’m 22 years old, and I was born and raised on the Dutch island Vlieland, where you can still find me often. I love being outdoors, whether it is hiking, running, sailing or taking a dip in the sea. I also enjoy speedskating and embracing the cold whenever and wherever I can. This is my first year as a SSTX committee member and I am happily fulfilling the role of secretary!

My interest in transplantation medicine started in my second year of medical school, when I worked as a Transplant Technician. I then entered the world of kidney transplant research, and I am thrilled to continue exploring this field in the foreseeable future. However, luckily there is always so much more to learn, as the subject of transplantation medicine covers a ton of exciting topics—from innovative surgical techniques and immunology challenges to ethical dilemmas and the latest research breakthroughs that keep pushing the boundaries of patient care.

I am excited to share our passion for transplantation medicine together. Let’s make it an educational and unforgettable few days in June!

Dina Leonarda

Hi!! My name is Dina Leonarda and I’m a fourth year medical student finishing my internships at the UMCG. I was born in New York and spent part of my childhood there before moving to Zagreb, Croatia. I chose to study medicine in Groningen four years ago mainly because of how fascinating I found the UMCG. Alongside medicine, I love trying out new sports, travelling and enjoying life - keeping it balanced.

It’s my first year as a member of the SSTX committee and I’m taking the role of treasurer - making sure we get to do all the educational and fun activities we have planned for you.

Studying medicine one is bound to learn about transplantation, but studying medicine in the UMCG particularly makes it impossible to disregard such an important topic due to the number and level of transplantations being performed here. Naturally, transplantation medicine is fascinating on its own just based on the incredible technicalities and skills that are required to perform a successful transplant. But beyond that, transplantation medicine is a prime example of the benefits of interdisciplinary and international collaboration. That is why I love the fact that this summer school is representative of just that!

Looking forward to seeing you all this June at the SSTX25!!

Kyra

Hi everyone! My name is Kyra and I’m a bachelors medical student at the University of Groningen. I’m 18 and I’m originally from Sarawak, Malaysia but I’ve lived in the Netherlands for 2 years before beginning my studies here in Groningen.

This year, I’m honoured to be part of the SSTX committee as the Public Relations Coordinator, where I’ll be working behind the scenes on all future content on this page and on our other socials. So don’t be afraid to reach out and let me know what you’d like to see and learn about our summer school and about transplantation medicine in general!

Transplantation medicine stands out to me with its combination of collaboration, innovation, precision. As a first year student, I’ve only seen a small percentage of the abundance of disciplines in medicine, but in joining this committee, I hope to explore this complex discipline further, through my team and also all our participants.

Even after more than 2 years in the Netherlands, I’m still always learning more about the Dutch culture, language and of course, the weather as well, and you will too during your days here in June! See you then

Feel free to e-mail us: summerschooltransplantation rug.nl