Simon Malfait

Background

About Simon Malfait

Simon Malfait earned his bachelor's degree in Nursing, specializing in mental health care, in 2007 at HoGent. After graduating, Simon began working as a nurse in the emergency and acute psychiatric care unit at the psychiatric hospital in Ghent-Sleidinge. During his employment, he completed his Master’s in Nursing and Midwifery at Ghent University in 2009. In 2010, he became a nursing care manager at the same psychiatric hospital, combining this role with strategic staff work for the general director. During this period, he also obtained his Master's in Healthcare Management and Policy at Ghent University in 2013. In 2014, Simon started working at Ghent University Hospital as a researcher and member of the strategic cell and began his doctoral research a few months later. He completed his Ph.D. in 2018 with a dissertation on patient participation in nursing units and bedside handover. After working as a staff and policy advisor for the strategic policy cell and the Nursing Department at Ghent University Hospital, he has served as the care manager of the Clinical Support Sector since 2022. In addition to his role as care manager at Ghent University Hospital, Simon is dedicated to furthering the academic development of the nursing profession. His research focuses on patient and family participation, the organization of nursing care (with particular attention to the role of head nurses), care models, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Simon currently mentors various ‘young potentials.’ In terms of education, Simon is the course holder for ‘Project Management’ in the Master's program in Nursing and Midwifery and teaches change management in the Healthcare Management program. He is also a guest lecturer in this program as well as in the Master's in Health Management and Policy. Through both programs, he supervises approximately eight students annually in their master's theses. For community service, Simon is a member of the scientific committee of KOTK, part of the editorial board of the Dutch-Flemish Journal of Nursing and the Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, and serves as a peer reviewer for various international journals. He is also an active member of the European Academy of Nursing Science and the Nursing Network. Recently, he was appointed as an expert for the Superior Health Council.