Chairman of the executive board of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam

Besides the well known medical professions such as physician, medical specialist or researcher, there are many other interesting career possibilities in (global) health care. With these short interviews we want to introduce different, interesting, sometimes unknown, professions to you. 

 

Prof Louise Gunning PhD, is chairman of the executive board of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam and the dean of medicine of the University of Amsterdam.

I studied Medicine in Groningen, but after my first degree, I went to the US and did a Masters in International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public health. After that I made career in health policy and epidemiological research. I became Professor of Social Medicine at the AMC and went on to my current position.

Every week the Board of Directors meets, we usually have two or three quarterly meetings with the divisions of the AMC, I talk to prospective professors, government representatives, students, foreign visitors, ... to be honest I spend most of my week talking to people who work or study at the AMC or with whom the AMC collaborates.

I would like to help fulfil the ambitions of the AMC to be the leading academic medical centre in the Netherlands, with an excellent medical school, an international reputation in science and evidence based patient care with compassion.

What do you like most about your job?

The diversity of people I meet. But also doing lots of different things, including international activities. I never envisioned this position, but it is a very exciting job to perform.

Be good at the job you choose, either as a clinician, a scientist or in the field of public health, because there are many ways that lead to this position.