PRoF Awards
The PRoF award is unique in its kind and awarded on special occasions to organisations or individuals to honour their contribution to the healthcare domain.
PRoF awards are wanted. As award winner you are in good company, you'll find our gnomes on the desk of Herman Van Rompuy, Professors and Healthcare professionals for their great work, results and achievements. PRoF choose a formidable golden gnome* as representation for the awards. They are a symbol for brightness, smartness and dynamism. They are always in a good mood and like many in the healthcare system they deliver great work and really make the difference. * size 40cm, weight 1,5 kg. |
Jump right to the PRoF award editions: Edition 2021, Edition 2019, Edition 2017, Edition 2016, Edition 2014, Edition 2013
PRoF AWARDS 2022
PRoF AWARD FOR Research 2022: prof. Steven Laureys
PRoF AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2022: Tom Braekeleirs
PRoF AWARD FOR Organisation 2022: Patricia Adriaens
PRoF special Honorary AWARD 2022: prof. Caroline Pauwels
PRoF very special Honorary AWARD 2022: Jan Van Hecke
PRoF AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2021: Ozark Henry
View the laudatio by Peter Hinssen
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PRoF AWARD FOR RESEARCH 2021: prof. Pierre Vandamme
View the laudatio by prof. Peleman and the speech by prof. Vandamme
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PRoF AWARD FOR CARE ORGANISATION: prof. Pascal Verdonck
View the laudatio by min. Crevits and the speech by prof. Verdonck
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PRoF HONORARY AWARD: CHRISTINE MUSSCHE
View the laudatio by prof. Van Audenhove and interview with Christine Mussche
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10 year membership award for innovative contributions to the PRoF consortium
Picture above - From left to right: Detoo Architects () - Haelvoet (Vincent Haelvoet) - VINK (Peter Luyten) - B2Ai ()
Picture above - From left to right: Modular Lighting Instruments (Bart Maeyens) - Televic (Tom Van Acker) - Chris De Roock
Picture above - From left to right: Valerie D'Haeze - Tony Nollet - Jan Van Hecke - Serge Lefevere - Piet Verhoeve
PRoF AWARD FOR CARE ORGANISATION 2017: FLEMISH CENTRE OF EXPERTISE IN SUICIDE PREVENTION
Chantal Van Audenhoven, the first winner ever of a PRoF award, was glad to do the honours and hand the PRoF Care Organisation Award 2017 to the Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention (VLESP). VLESP started out in 1979 as a small organisation run by a few volunteers. Nowadays, VLESP is one of the driving forces behind the Flemish Suicide Prevention Action Plan.
Regrettably, suicide still ranks high as a cause of death in Flanders. The Flemish Government has partnered up with VLESP to tackle this serious health and social problem and to reduce the number of suicides by 20% in 2020 (compared to 2000). VLESP informs and advices, next to developing and implementing tools and methods on suicide prevention, postvention and mental health promotion. (read more...) |
PRoF AWARD FOR RESEARCH 2017: PROF DR PETRA DE SUTTER
Professor Doctor Renaat Peleman presented The PRoF Research Award 2017 to Professor Doctor Petra De Sutter of Ghent University Hospital for her pioneering work in the field of reproductive medicine. Her research on embryonic stem cells has gained international renown and she is particularly applauded for her remarkable ability to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical research.
Petra De Sutter holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. After her fellowship at IMMC, Chicago (USA), she returned to Ghent, where she is now Head of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at the University Hospital. In her research she focuses on three topics, i.e. fertilisation, the psychological and ethical aspects of fertility treatment and embryonic stem cells. (read more...) |
PRoF HONORARY AWARD 2017: PROF DR ETIENNE VERMEERSCH
Jan Van Hecke presented philosopher Etienne Vermeersch with the PRoF Honorary Award 2017. Etienne Vermeersch may be in his eighties, but he is still very much alive and kicking. He is one of the leading intellectuals in Flanders and has more than once spurred public debate on social issues such as euthanasia and abortion.
That was not the only reason, however, for rewarding Etienne Vermeersch with the PRoF Honorary Award 2017. The PRoF Theme Days 2017 focused on social isolation and loneliness in older people. Though already in his eighties, Etienne Vermeersch is far from lonely and still plays a very active role in social life. When asked about the secret to staying happy in old age, Etienne Vermeersch pointed at the importance of committing yourself and being driven by what you do. (read more...) |
PRoF AWARD FOR CARE ORGANISATION 2016: HET VENTIEL
Jurn Verschraegen, General Director of the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Dementia, was honoured to hand out the PRoF Care Organisation Award 2016 to Het Ventiel. This non-profit organisation for younger people with dementia was launched in 2015 by Gudrun Callewaert. When her partner was diagnosed with young-onset dementia, she went in search of meaningful leisure experiences to “put the sparkle back” in her partner’s eyes.
The idea is simple but effective and quite disruptive to the traditional clinical approach: instead of focusing on “patients” and their declining cognitive abilities, Het Ventiel focuses on “people” and all the things they’re still able to do. Het Ventiel thus brings together patients, carers and volunteers (the so called “buddies”) for fun activities, ranging from walking and hippotherapy to baking and painting. (read more...) |
PRoF AWARD FOR RESEARCH 2016: PROF DR DOMINIQUE VERTE (VUB)
The PRoF Research Award 2016 goes to Professor Dominique Verté of the VUB. Chantal Van Audenhove of the KU Leuven presented him with the Award while expressing her deep appreciation for his impressive track record of field and policy research.
Dominique Verté is Professor of Social Gerontology at the Department of Educational Sciences of the VUB. After several years of practical experience in the care industry as a nurse, he became a scientist and acted as advisor to the Flemish government. He is well-known for his large-scale research on the needs and expectations of the elderly living at home, conducted among 70,000 elderly people in 180 municipalities in Flanders. (read more...) |
PRoF HONORARY AWARD 2016: PROF DR PHILIPPE VANDEKERCKHOVE (BELGIAN RED CROSS FLANDERS)
Professor Dr. Philippe Vandekerckhove, CEO of the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, received the PRoF
Honorary Award 2016. He was applauded by Professor Dr. Renaat Peleman, holder of the first PRoF Chair, for his sustained commitment to innovation, research and professionalism in the international aid sector. Philippe Vandekerckhove obtained his PhD in clinical biology at the KU Leuven and continued his clinical training in Johannesburg, Hawaii, Rotterdam and New York. He was clinical director at the University Hospital Leuven until he joined the Red Cross in 2003. (read more...) |
PRoF HONORARY AWARD 2014: PROF DR RENAAT PELEMAN (UZ GENT)
THE PRoF 2014 Honorary Award 2014 went rightly to Prof. Dr. Renaat Peleman, Head Doctor of Ghent University Hospital, his talent for organisation in one of the largest university hospitals in the country. He brings it excellent patient care, education and research together to make those together enrich within budgetary constraints healthcare today more than ever to reckon with.
He received this PRoF recognition for his belief that everyone benefits from it if we work together. A belief that he is trying to achieve not only daily within his own university, but also beyond, in Ghent, in Flanders, in Europe and in the world. (read more) |
PRoF AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2014: PHILIPS LIGHTING AND HEALTHCARE
represented by Mr. Geert Verachtert, Country Leader Philips BeLux
The PRoF 2014 Innovation Award year goes to Philips. As a global player, they are always looking through ongoing research into new innovations, in particular for new light and Healthcare applications.
This award is granted to Philips for its patients chamber innovations, specifically the dynamic lighting solution HealWell, designed to support the sleep-wake rhythm of patients, and the recent adaptive patient room concept Adaptive Healing Room, designed for patients through special light and video facilities support during their stay in hospital. The Award reflects the appreciation of the many hundreds of visitors to the PRoF demonstration site, where they mainly by the HealWell solution, the importance of light for humans, specifically for the elderly, ... (read more) |
PRoF AWARD FOR CARE ORGANISATION 2014: WIT GELE KRUIS OOST-VLAANDEREN
represented by (in alphabetical order): Mia De Caluwé, directeur zorgkwaliteit & -innovatie, Katlyn Colman, algemeen directeur, Katalien Dendooven, directeur zorgverlening, Danielle Van Landuyt, directeur personeel & organisatie
The PRoF Award 2014 organisation, this year goes to a nursing organisation: the White Yellow Cross of East Flanders (Wit-Gele Kruis Oost-Vlaanderen).
As an autonomous Care Organisation they combined, with great success, forces with Flanders Synergy to jointly develop a new nursing organisation. White Yellow Cross East Flanders started in 2012 with a complete redesign of their organisation. From the start, employees and external stakeholders, including patients, caregivers and physicians were involved in the innovation process for the new organisation. The organisation has been completely redesigned from a bureaucratic functional structure into a flexible and agile organisation base on local community teams that are working based on self-management principles. The self-managing community ... (read more) |
PRoF AWARD FOR RESEARCH 2014: IMEC
represented by dr. Jo de Boeck (CTO en Senior Vice President IMEC)
The PRoF 2014 Research Award goes to imec, a global player in the field of research in electronics and more specifically in the development of chip technology.
Imec applies this very advanced science for years, and with more and more success in the healthcare sector. Through continuous excellence in research with the top notch researchers investigating applications of nanotechnology, they help the medical profession and the patient to a better future. We congratulate IMEC with this special recognition for their continuous and outstanding research ... (read more) |
PROF HONORARY AWARD 2013: EUROPEAN PRESIDENT HERMAN VAN ROMPUY
Chairman of the European Council
Chairman of the European Council
De PRoF Honorary Award 2013 goes to President Van Rompuy to honour his solid presidency of the European Council, his contribution to and the promotion of the international peace and especially for his authenticity during his entire career. (read more)
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PROF AWARD FOR INNOVATION 2013: PROFESSOR WIM VANHAVERBEKE
PRoF AWARD FOR CARE ORGANISATION 2013: MR. JURN VERSCHRAEGEN
director at the Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen
director at the Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen
De PRoF Award for care organisation 2013 goes to Mr. Jurn Verschraegen, director at the Flemish Expertise centre for dementia (Expertisecentrum Dementie Vlaanderen). The award is granted for his inspiring, coordinating and motivating role with respect to organisations active in the domain of dementia.
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PRoF AWARD FOR RESEARCH 2013: PROFESSOR PAUL LAGASSE
Chairman of IWT & iMinds
Chairman of IWT & iMinds