Dr. Frederiek Nuytens graduated in 2012 as a medical doctor from KU Leuven. He completed his general surgery training at the Europe hospitals in Uccle, AZ Groeninge hospital in Kortrijk, the Zuyderland hospital in Sittard, the Netherlands and the UZ Leuven university hospitals. 

Afterwards, he completed additional training in abdominal and bariatric surgery at the University Hospitals Leuven and completed a clinical and scientific fellowship at the University Hospital of Lille, France. In 2021, he joined the department of abdominal surgery at AZ Groeninge where he focuses on upper abdominal and obesity surgery, including robotic surgery.  Dr Nuytens is proctor for bariatric robotic surgery. 

Dr Edward Willems graduated as a doctor from KU Leuven in 2014. He completed his training in general surgery at OLV Hospital in Aalst, AZ Groeninge Hospital in Kortrijk, Maastricht University Medical Centre and UZ Leuven. Between 2020 and 2023, he completed an additional training in abdominal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery at UZ Leuven and, in 2023, an additional fellowship in bariatric surgery at AZ Sint-Jan in Bruges. From 2024, he will be part of the abdominal surgery department at AZ Groeninge with a focus on surgery of liver, bile ducts and pancreas and obesity surgery.

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Celine De Meyere graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from Vives Kortrijk in 2011. She then obtained a master's degree in nursing and midwifery at UGent in 2013 and also completed specific teacher training there in 2014. Since 2014, she has been working at AZ Groeninge where she worked as a nurse in the abdominal surgery department for 4 years. She combined this with teaching bachelor nursing students at the Vives in Kortrijk. In 2018, she decided to start working as study coordinator at the abdominal surgery department. Besides coordinating scientific studies, she is also a nurse specialist in sacral neuromodulation and obesity coordinator where she acts as a point of contact for obese patients. The main focus here is informing and guiding/following up patients and this in collaboration with the entire multidisciplinary team.

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Annelore Pareyn graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in nutrition and dietetics from Kaho St.-Lieven in Ghent. Since then, she was an independent dietician in Izegem for 4 years, focusing mainly on overweight patients. She also held an administrative position for the past 18 years. Since January 2024, Annelore has been working as obesity coordinator in the Obesity Clinic at AZ Groeninge. Here, she acts as first point of contact and confidant for patients eligible for bariatric surgery. She conducts an initial screening interview with the patient and takes charge of coordinating the various investigations and treatment pathways.  Informing, guiding and following up patients are key here and this in collaboration with the entire multidisciplinary team. 

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Dr Gerd Vanhaverbeke graduated as a doctor from KU Leuven in 1998. He completed his specialist training in endocrinology-diabetology at UZ Leuven in 2004. Since 2004, he has been working at AZ Groeninge as an endocrino-diabetologist, and since 2016 he has been medical head of the department. He has a particular interest in overweight/obesity and its complications and is therefore a member of BASO (Belgian Association fort he Study of Obesity).  In 2019, he co-founded the conservative multidisciplinary lifestyle group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg' at AZ Groeninge with Dr Hindryckx.

Dr Gertjan Vereecke graduated as a doctor at Ghent University in 2013 and completed his training as an endocrinologist-diabetologist at UZ Gent between 2013 and 2019. Since 2019, he has been working at AZ Groeninge. He is a member of BASO (Belgian Association for the Study of Obesity) and helps in the management of overweight patients. On the one hand through the conservative multidisciplinary lifestyle group programme "Slimmer Onderweg" in AZ Groeninge. On the other through the multidisciplinary screening for bariatric surgery.

Dr Nele Myngheer graduated as a doctor from KU Leuven in 2010. She completed her specialist training in endocrinology-diabetology at UZ Leuven in 2016. Since 2017, she has been working at AZ Groeninge as an endocrino-diabetologist. She has a particular interest in managing overweight/obese people and their complications. Either through a conservative approach (lifestyle group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg' or medication) or through referral for bariatric surgery.

Dr. Ellen Heyns graduated as a medical doctor from KU Leuven in 1999. She completed her specialist training in endocrinology-diabetology at UZ Leuven in 2005. Since 2010, she has been working at AZ Groeninge as an endocrino-diabetologist. She has a special interest in the care and treatment of overweight/obese people and their complications. This involves the lifestyle group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg' and/or support with medication or referral for bariatric surgery.

Dr Wim Lecot graduated as a doctor from KU Leuven in 1988 and became a specialist in psychiatry in 1993 after training through UZ Leuven and its affiliated hospitals. He has a special interest in mood and addiction problems and is also a system therapist.

Dr Chantal Hindryckx graduated from Ghent University in 1988, where she subsequently became a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has been working at AZ Groeninge since 2009, where she co-founded the conservative multidisciplinary lifestyle group programme SLIMMER ONDERWEG with Dr Vanhaverbeke in 2019. Her main interest is in rehabilitating patients through exercise programmes that restore physical and mental well-being.

Yara Knockaert graduated as a dietician from Vives Brugge in 2013. She then followed further training in diabetes education and obesity in children and adolescents. Previously, she worked within the obesity centre and diabetes convention in AZ Alma. In 2019, she started working as a dietician within AZ Groeninge. Here, she supervises patients with gastrointestinal problems, allergies and intolerances, among other things. Within the obesity clinic, she is responsible for nutritional counselling before and after obesity surgery

Evy Delongueville graduated as a dietician from KAHO Sint-Lieven Ghent in 2011. In 2012, she completed her postgraduate degree in diabetes education and in 2016, she completed the post-training in sports dietetics. Since 2011, she has been working as a dietician at the diabetes centre in the AZ Groeninge where she performs outpatient consultations. She also guides people towards a more balanced diet within the multidisciplinary group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg' of the obesity clinic.

Evy Christiaens graduated as a dietician from Vives Brugge in 2009. She then obtained the specific teacher training diploma in 2011, the postgraduate diabetes educator in 2017 and the trained counsellor certificate after Gastric Bypass surgery in 2019. She also studies emotional eating behaviour. She has been working as a dietician within AZ Groeninge since 2011. In 2016, she joined the diabetes team. She combines her work as a dietician in the diabetes centre with guest lectures to future diabetes educators and provides training on diabetes management. She is also one of the three dieticians within the conservative multidisciplinary lifestyle group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg'.

Dominique Verburgh studied at HTI (now VIVES) in Bruges, where she majored in nutrition and dietetics. After graduating, she worked as an independent dietician for many years. She then followed the diabetes educator course to join the team at the diabetes centre of AZ Groeninge. She also teaches on nutrition within the conservative multidisciplinary lifestyle group programme 'Slimmer Onderweg'.

Sofie Decock graduated as a clinical psychologist from Ghent University in 1999. Three years later, she also obtained the postgraduate diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy there. Since 1999, she has been working at AZ Groeninge as a clinical psychologist. She was a psychologist in the multidisciplinary group programme for obesity in children, adolescents and adults for 9 years. She also worked in the psychiatry department, for the Psychiatry Liaison Team, oncorehabilitation, ... Currently, she performs the screenings for obesity surgery and is internship coordinator for the clinical psychology department. Next to AZ Groeninge, she runs an independent psychology practice for (young) adults.

France De Potter graduated as a business psychologist from Ghent University in 2020. Two years later, she also obtained diplomas in clinical psychology and sports psychology at KU Leuven. In her final master year, France did an internship as a clinical psychologist in the physical medicine and pain clinic at AZ Groeninge. Since 2022, she has also been working in AZ Groeninge, as a clinical psychologist for physical medicine and the diabetes centre. She also works as a sports psychologist at a multidisciplinary sports centre. For the obesity clinic, she manages the group sessions for 'Slimmer Onderweg'.