Meet our Haematologist in Training from Belgium

Earlier this year the Department of Haematology at Concord Hospital warmly welcomed Juliette Raedemaeker from Belgium, who is in her final year of training as a Haematologist.

“I had always wanted to do one year of study abroad and in preparation I undertook one year of English lessons and then took an International English exam to make this dream possible,” says Juliette.

“I am particularly interested in the study and treatment of Lymphoma and so I’m very grateful to be completing my studies as a Haematologist alongside the world-leading blood cancer specialists and researchers at Concord Hospital.”

As fate would have it, Juliette’s Consultant Supervisor, Prof Marc Andre had worked with Prof Judith Trotman, Head of Concord Haematology, when she was a Consultant on sabbatical in France for 12 months, and he recommended Juliette to Judith.

Judith Trotman is one of our Board Members of Foundation for A Bloody Great Cause and has international standing in the management of blood cancers, specifically Lymphoid malignancies. Since the treatment of Lymphoma is a particular interest of Juliette’s, it was a wonderful opportunity for her to train with the best.

“I really knew nothing about Australia, but I decided to move here from Brussels to take up this fantastic opportunity and complete my specialist training at Concord Hospital.

“I have loved every minute of living and working in Australia. I love the weather and I find Australians to be so positive. They also have such a supportive way of working, both with patients and colleagues. That’s definitely something I will try to carry forward in my future career.

“It has been such a wonderful experience, working alongside and learning from the world-leaders in Haematology research and treatment at Concord,” says Juliette.

As part of her Haematologist final year of training, Juliette has been working alongside Judith Trotman in the Haematology Clinic. She has also been working in the Haematology laboratory, examining and reporting on pathology specimens and seeing patients who are participating in the Haematology Clinical Research Unit’s blood cancer clinical trials.

She is also the study physician for the COVAX-Lymphoma study, which is investigating the immune response of the COVID-19 vaccine in two sub-groups of patients with compromised immunity – patients with Follicular Lymphoma and Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia.

Juliette moved to Sydney with her Radiologist partner Bernard in March and they live in the CBD near Museum Station – a location which has proven to be very interesting for these visitors.

When Juliette completes this voluntary training role at the end of December, she will take up a position in March 2022 as Consultant Haematologist at Grand Hôpital de Charleroi in Belgium – no doubt, taking incredible insights from this training period with her.

“When I return to Belgium as a fully trained Haematologist, I know that I will continue to collaborate and maintain contact with the outstanding team at Concord Hospital. It has been such a fantastic experience – one that I will never forget!” she says.