Founding Father Sensius appointed knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands

Founding Father Sensius appointed knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands

Prof. Gerard van Rhoon was appointed knight in the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands at the occasion of the goodbye symposium to his honour on Friday 24 June.

This royal decoration was awarded for his 45 year career which was dedicated to helping cancer patients. Not just as patients, but also very much as human beings.

From the very beginning in 1977 he has translated innovative, audacious ideas into scientific research and clinical application. He transformed the idea of using heat in cancer treatments into reality, and where the equipment was not there, he and his team would invent it. Later, when the first hyperthermia devices came on the market, he improved these.

The final step in this journey was the next generation in hyperthermia: the second prototype of the applicator for the treatment of Head and Neck Cancer. This is an area where cancer treatment is difficult and leads to severe side effects, some of them permanent. His idea when starting this was “if we succeed in applying hyperthermia in this area, we can do it anywhere”.

He will continue to share his experience and knowledge not only as an advisor to Sensius, but also in dedicating part of his time mentoring PhD students. We are proud to have him with us and hope he will do so for a long time – alongside his well-deserved retirement.