User:Bvcamp

Benjamin Van Camp was born in Mechelen (Belgium) in 1946. He studied Medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), graduated as MD in 1971 and specialised in Internal Medicine (1976), with specific competence in Hematology. He obtained a PhD in Medical Sciences from the VUB in 1980. He was a visiting doctoral fellow at TNO, Rijswijk, Nl (1974), postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Medical School, Ca, USA (1980) and Visiting Professor at Cancer Center Tucson University, Arizona, USA (1988). In 1989 he became full professor in Hematology at the faculty of Medicine, VUB and Head of the clinical department of Medical Oncology and Hematology of the University Hospital (UZBrussel). For his basic and clinical research work on Multiple Myeloma he received the Belgian Franqui Chair. He was awarded the Roland De Ruyck price of the Royal Flemish Academy of Medicine (KVAG) and was elected as member of the KVAG (2002). He published with his collaborators more than 200 International peer reviewed papers, was invited speaker in international meetings and was promotor of several scientific (inter)national grants. He is/was member and/or chairman of several (inter)national scientific societies (a.o. BSH, BSI, EHA, ASH) and research review committees (such as Scientific Research Foundation-Flanders {FWO-V} and- French Community {FNRS}, agency for Innovation by Science and Technology {IWT}, EU grant reviews, IMF, MMRF, etc.. From 1994 on he became involved in academic policy making and governance, first as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1994-2000), thereafter as Rector of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2000-2008). Following the introduction of the entrance exam for Medical Studies in 1997, as Dean of the faculty of Medicine he implemented a new educational curriculum in Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and reformed the organisational structure of the Faculty. As rector of the VUB he adapted the Academic Organisation of the University and led the implementation of the “Bologna” required changes. In this respect he implemented quality assurance in education and research as well at the level of content of programmes as of the professional inbedding. During his mandate as rector he presided the Flemish Inter University Council (VLIR) and the Scientific Research Council of Flanders (FWO-V). Until 2011 he was an active member of the Steering Comité of UNICA ( Network of the Universities of the Capitals of Europe), took part on evaluation processes of member universities and initiated efforts for joint International Master and PhD programs. From 2009 to 2014 he was chairman of the Board of Governors of the University Hospital of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and as such chairman of the Academic Strategic Committee. In this respect he was in charge of the project to integrate the University Hospital, Medical School and Nursing department of the Erasmus University College within one Governance structure (i.e. University Medical Center-Brussels). He is socially and scientifically involved in several non-profit organisations, as such he is chairman of the Centre for Child Abuse Protection Brussels (VK-Brussel) and member of research council University Ghent, member of the Board of governors of the Revalidation Hospital Inkendaal, chairman of the advisory committee Cancer King Baudouin Foundation, chairman of the grant review committee and member of the advisory board of the International Myeloma Foundation In 2007, King Albert II of Belgium has honoured him with the peerage of Baron.