As a clinical informaticist, you connect care, technology, and information.

Jasmijn studied Technical Mathematics in Eindhoven and worked as a consultant, advising organizations on digital innovation. Over two years ago, she joined the Princess Máxima Center to pursue an engineering doctorate in clinical informatics. ‘It was a wonderful opportunity to further develop my skills and be much closer to clinical practice. As a consultant, you remain more at a distance. At the Máxima Center, I contribute directly from the Information, Data, and Technology (IDT) department to solutions that improve care for children with cancer and make work easier for healthcare professionals. Not from the sidelines, but always in close collaboration with care providers and researchers.'

Jasmijn strongly feels that everyone at the center shares the same goal: the mission of the Máxima Center. ‘As a clinical informaticist, you bridge care, technology, and information. You ensure that medical software truly fits the care practice and is safe. You also make sure all systems and applications work well together. Right now, I am working in a multidisciplinary team on KISS, the pediatric oncology information standard and system implementation. This is an important innovation. We make agreements on how to record, model, and use information. This way, care providers only need to register data once and always have the latest information at hand. That information is also available for research. Good information is crucial: it helps care providers make better decisions and enables high-quality scientific research.

Jasmijn appreciates that what she loves most about the Máxima Center is the collaborative approach. Everything is done together, with physicians, nurse specialists, researchers, and colleagues from the IDT and the Trial and Data Center (TDC). ‘Everyone recognizes the importance of providing good information. That means anything you come up with can immediately contribute to the care process. What moves me most are the moments I spend on the ward. You experience very directly what it’s all for. You see children who are so ill, their parents experiencing everything, and the tremendous dedication of the care team. You also see how the systems work and where improvements are possible. Technology can sometimes feel abstract, but here you see very tangibly what you are working on. You immediately notice that your work matters.’

‘The moment you walk in, you feel the passion and shared ambition,’ Jasmijn concludes. ‘The Máxima Center is specialized enough to handle complex, innovative projects, yet small enough to get to know each other quickly and work closely together. If you want to make an impact in an enthusiastic and warm team, this is the place.