Lifestyle in the Neighbourhood is a new transdisciplinary course developed by colleagues from the field of lifestyle, epidemiology, placemaking and cardiology. As an unhealthy lifestyle is responsible for almost 75% percent of the disease burden in the Netherlands, including non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, futureproof doctors not only need to have knowledge on the role of healthy lifestyle in care, but they also need tools to apply this knowledge to patients, their environment and their daily life. The course on Lifestyle in the Neighbourhood for the BSc Medicine aims to innovate by 1) using the innovative Placemaking education program in Medicine, 2) better align between knowledge and skills regarding lifestyle and prevention in care, and 3) give more attention to the topic of public health, where this course will serve as a starter and to be hopefully later on be implemented in the core curriculum.
The Healthy Future grant is used to enricht the educational program of the bachelor Medical Information Science by adapting the following course: ‘Selfcare with eHealth ’. This final course of the first year MI introduces students to how eHealth can be utilized for self-management in cardiovascular disease management (CVRM), with a focus on the e-Health domain, accessibility, usability and implementation success factors. The course includes writing an advisory report where students compare various eHealth applications for supporting self-management in people with (or at risk of) conditions related to CVRM. The grant supports collaboration with colleagues from the cardiology and HAG department to better introduce the project of this course and play a role in assessing the outputs from the students through interdisciplinary feedback sessions during the project and final presentations. A transdisciplinary component is added by including ‘Samen digitaal’, ‘placemaking in the wijk’ and incorporating the new Escape suitcase from “Medizeker” as means of bringing in end-user perspectives through experiential learning.
The Special Interest Group (SIG) Healthy Future Education brings together researchers and educators who focus on innovative education within specific themes related to a healthy future. The SIG promotes knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration on topics such as preventive healthcare, social well-being networks, and healthy food systems.
At our monthly (online) meetings, we discuss examples of Healthy Future education, grants, and other development opportunities.
You can join the SIG by contacting Dr. Tjerk Jan Schuitmaker-Warnaar (T.J.Schuitmaker@uva.nl). This will keep you informed about the latest developments, events, and collaboration opportunities.
In the spring of 2026, the SIG will issue development grants for new interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary Healthy Future education initiatives. Some examples of existing innovative educational programs include Change Making and Placemaking.
Change Making is an action-oriented program where students, researchers, and professionals collaborate closely on transition challenges. This program combines theory and practice through small, real-world interventions in society. Some example themes include:
Our placemaking initiatives focus on creating healthier and more livable environments through participatory approaches, actively involving communities in redesigning and improving their surroundings. In April 2025, the first edition of Placemaking will take place in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine: Cardiology in the Neighborhood.