Maarten de Wit

Background

About Maarten de Wit

I have been active in organisations of people with rheumatic diseases at local, national and international level since From 2005 till 2009 as the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Vice President representing People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (Standing Committee of PARE). My interest in research started since 2002 when I participated in OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) for the first time. Since then I have actively contributed to the development of support programs for patient representatives with an interest in scientific research. Since 2003 I have co-authored over 175 international peer reviewed publications and book chapters. In 2014 I finished a PhD study as qualitative researcher, mentored by prof. Tineke Abma (VU Medical Centre Amsterdam, Department of Medical Humanities) and prof. John Kirwan (Bristol University, Department of Rheumatology). Evaluating outcomes and process of a decade of patient involvement in rheumatology research was the major focus. Between 2013 and 2020 I joint the OMERACT Executive Committee. As trainer for Stichting Tools I have educated over 600 patient representatives and researchers regarding principles and practice of collaborative research. I have experienced psoriatic arthritis for 40 years and am successfully treated with anti-TNFα.