Natasha Appelman-Dijkstra appointed professor

Her research focuses on osteoporosis and rare bone and mineral disorders, including leading a European registry on rare endocrine and bone abnormalities. She is also responsible for several drug studies for rare bone and mineral disorders. In addition, she plans to work with colleagues to establish a national registry on treatments for osteoporosis and is researching new ways to measure bone quality.

In the coming years, Appelman-Dijkstra wants to further expand collaborations in patient care for rare bone and hormone disorders, including consultations with multiple specialists. In doing so, she is committed to providing care close to home for patients with rare bone or endocrine disorders . “I want to further facilitate home monitoring and care in collaboration with hospitals and healthcare providers in the patient's neighborhood.”

Appelman-Dijkstra is currently chief educator of Internal Medicine in the Leiden training region. “I am responsible for training basic physicians who want to become internists. I want to continue to improve this training in collaboration with the Internal Medicine residency team and colleagues in the region. For example, by increasing the focus on the digitization of care within medical education. For example, that students and physicians become familiar with home monitoring and video consultations from the very beginning.”

Resume

Appelman-Dijkstra started as an internist in training at HMC+ in 2006 and then did her internist-endocrinologist specialization at LUMC. After her specialization in 2012, she became involved in the Center for Bone Quality at the LUMC. In 2015, she completed her PhD thesis on pituitary failure. After this, she focused mainly on bone and mineral disorders. Since 2016, she directs the Center for Bone Quality, where education, care and research on bone and mineral disorders come together. From 2022, she will combine this with the appointment as chief educator of Internal Medicine for the Leiden education region.