- Reference number: 2616
- Apply until: 15 August 2026
- Contract for an indefinite period
Breaking grounds as medical department head
Patient care, training and research are UZ Leuven's three core tasks. In Belgium and Europe we play a leading role which we want to retain and develop. To this end, more than 10,000 motivated employees pool their expertise every day. UZ Leuven has a solid reputation as a European referral centre for complex high-quality patient care and ground-breaking translational clinical scientific research.
The new department will be established by the integration of the existing departments of Traumatology and Orthopaedics on 1 October 2026. The department will provide the full spectrum of musculoskeletal and trauma surgery within a care programme structure and with special attention for patient-centred care. Medical activities target both acute trauma surgery and surgical treatment of, among others, degenerative, paediatric, sports-related and oncological conditions, as well as the care of patients with cerebral palsy. The department will also play a leading role within the Oost-Brabant major trauma network, which is currently undergoing the DGU accreditation process.
The new department will build on the complementary expertise of the two existing departments and focus strongly on team development, multidisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing. By bringing together a broad range of subspecialties, an environment is created in which members of the medical staff strengthen each other's expertise, develop care pathways jointly and actively contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and professional growth.
Supported by translational and clinical research groups, the medical staff actively participate in innovative clinical research, as well as translational and fundamental research programmes, primarily within the Group of Biomedical Sciences at KU Leuven. They also contribute to training within the bachelor's and master's degree programmes in this group and the faculty of medicine, the advanced master's programme in Specialist Medicine and the Doctoral School.
How will you break grounds?
- In addition to your clinical duties, you will also take on responsibilities in terms of training and scientific research and encourage and inspire your staff members to further develop their own skills, in consultation with the dean and the Chief Medical Officer. You monitor the balance between the department’s clinical and scientific mission.
- As medical department head, you form a bridge between the board and the medical department. In joint consultation with the board and your staff you determine the department's strategic policy and translate this policy into specific goals.
- You stimulate optimisation and innovation within your own area of expertise and encourage the same among your fellow staff members.
- You propagate UZ Leuven's vision and values as an international medical centre of expertise.
- You also pay attention to the place of your department and UZ Leuven within the local and supra-regional network.
- You possess the necessary management skills, you have excellent communication skills and you know how to inspire and constructively steer your staff to work in a quality-oriented and innovative way.
- You are a leader who brings people together and have the ability to lead a change programme and successfully implement it.
- You should also have an eye for the practical organisation and business economic efficiency of the department and seek optimal cross-department multidisciplinary collaboration between doctors, paramedics, nurses and other professional groups. You do this in consultation with the UZ Leuven board.
What qualifications do you need?
- You obtained a diploma as a doctor and specialist in orthopaedic surgery, trauma surgery or general surgery and hold a PhD.
- You have relevant clinical expertise and experience in scientific research and training. Experience in management is a bonus.
What do you get in return?
- The medical leadership of a new department of orthopaedics and traumatology with the ambition to further strengthen its national and international standing, in close collaboration with excellent support services and embedded in a vibrant scientific environment.
- An interesting, complex high-tech hospital organisation with continuous challenges in terms of content.
- A good personnel status with numerous fringe benefits.
Ready to break grounds?
Send your letter of motivation with curriculum vitae before 15 August 2026 with reference number 2616 to UZ Leuven, general management, attn. the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Gert Van Assche, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium or by email to gert.vanassche@uzleuven.be.