David Volders

In 2012, Doctor David Volders lost his heart to Vancouver. “The city, the surrounding nature, and the people – Canadians are among the nicest people I know. I knew there and then that if I ever got the chance to live and work there, I would grab it with both hands,” the UHasselt alumnus says with a laugh. Four years later, he left for Canada to pursue a fellowship in interventional neuroradiology. Today, he is an associate professor, neuroradiology program director, and the head of the Interventional Neuroradiology sub-section at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, where he is training the next generation of superspecialists.

The best of many worlds

“As a doctor with a European degree, finding a good job in North America is far from obvious. You have to prove yourself in all kinds of rigorous selection processes, but thanks to my super-specialisation, I managed to pull it off,” says Dr David Volders. “Fortunately, too, because this really is my dream job. Interventional neuroradiology is an extremely fascinating field in which you can really make a difference. We use minimally invasive procedures to remove blood clots and treat stroke in record time, allowing patients to recover quickly. And thanks to my academic position, my job is also very varied. Treating patients, conducting and coordinating research, or training fellows: I get to do it all. This job really offers me the very best of many worlds.”

1. After secondary school, I went on to study medicine because…

I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. As a child, my mother, who was a nurse, sometimes took me with her to the hospital where she worked and I found it all very fascinating. In secondary school, I loved science and the idea of helping people – however cliché it may sound. Becoming a doctor has always been my dream.

2. What made studying in Diepenbeek so special…

The personalised approach, the classes in small groups, and the direct link between theory and practice. Subjects like physics and chemistry were made relevant to clinical practice from the outset. I found it all extremely motivating. Student life in Diepenbeek was also really unique. The medical students formed a close group of friends, and we all kept in touch even after transferring to Leuven. First-rate camaraderie.

3. My favourite spot on campus was …

The agora. Everyone had their own corner there. You knew from the minute you walked in that this was where the medicine crew sat while the economics students sat at the other end. (laughs)

4. The teacher who inspired me the most was ….

Professor Steels. His passion for his field of study was so infectious that you just did not want to disappoint him, not even during his particularly tough exams. He made the transition from pure science to medicine incredibly fascinating.

5. As a student, I was…

very involved in student life but also deeply invested in my studies. As a member of Miezerik, I participated in all the activities, from baptisms, cantuses and parties to the legendary election weeks. But no matter how late it got the night before, in the mornings, I was always well prepared in class. I always wanted to do well - just like most medical students. We always motivated each other. I was also one of the 10 students who founded StuRa at the time.

6. If there’s one thing I learned at UHasselt, it’s…

how crucial it is to maintain a balance between studying and your social life. Regardless of where your career takes you, you really need both. Work is important, but when you close the door behind you at the end of the day, you need to be able to relax and find support in a warm circle of family and friends. This is also something I often tell our students and assistants. Here in Canada, they put even more pressure on students who want to study medicine than in Belgium. In high school, they have to achieve excellent school results in addition to already doing research projects and volunteering in a hospital. Given the tremendous pressure to perform well, it is crucial that you also set aside some time for yourself.

7. How would you describe your job in no more than 5 sentences?

As head of the Interventional Neuroradiology sub-section, I treat patients with abnormalities of the head and neck arteries, often after a stroke or cerebral haemorrhage. We use a minimally invasive procedure, making a small incision in the wrist or groin, to remove blood clots in no time. I perform these extremely advanced treatments myself, but I also train specialists in interventional neuroradiology and develop new lines of research in this field. My job as a professor offers the perfect combination of patient care, teaching and innovative research.

8. What do you find most enjoyable/challenging about your job?

The most beautiful and challenging part of my job has to be the enormous impact we can make with our procedures. Without treatment, many of these patients would die or remain disabled for life, with profound social, human and economic consequences. When they come in, speed is the essence. Every second counts because “time is brain”. The procedures are incredibly delicate and require maximum focus, but the satisfaction you feel afterwards is enormous. My research mainly focuses on further improving these life-saving procedures.

9. In my opinion, the key to success lies in…

a combination of factors. First of all, you need to have a clear plan: you need to know what you want to achieve and why, and never lose sight of your goal. In addition, you need to not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and always keep a positive attitude, even when life is complicated. Hard work is also definitely a must. Some of the procedures I perform take as little as 10 minutes, but it takes years of dedication and training to get them right. You have to constantly challenge yourself, keep setting the bar high, and always show up well-prepared at the start. I learnt the latter in Diepenbeek, by the way. (laughs)

10. If you were able/want to do something or give back to your alma mater, what would it be?

First and foremost, I hope to inspire others with my story. I am anything but a genius, but I knew what I wanted, and I gave it my all. You can get very far with hard work and perseverance. Students or alumni who are mulling a career in my field are always welcome to contact me. I would like to be an icebreaker who paves the way for Uhasselt and its community.