• Reference: 2431
• Employment percentage: 100%
• Application deadline: 31-03-2025

Breaking grounds as medical staff member

As one of the country’s largest academic hospitals, UZ Leuven offers specialized and complex care that draws patients nationally and internationally. Its multidisciplinary teams are highly regarded for their expertise across diverse specialties, setting standards for quality and excellence. UZ Leuven became the first Belgian hospital to obtain the international JCI label for safe and quality care and was ranked 44th in the World’s best hospitals 2024 by the American magazine Newsweek. Its collaboration with KU Leuven and the Biomedical Sciences Group fosters continuous advancements in medical training and innovative treatments trough pioneering clinical research.
The Medical Department Dentistry is committed to providing every patient with the highest quality care, supported by a highly qualified multidisciplinary team of experienced clinicians. Our goal is to be among the top centers for oral healthcare by excelling in patient care, education, and scientific research. As a recognized reference and training center, our patient care is continuously evaluated and optimized. In this context, the Medical Department Dentistry currently has a vacancy in the field of PERIODONTOLOGY.

How will you break grounds?

As staff member in periodontology, you will be jointly responsible for the development and supervision of the periodontology discipline. The role is based on three pillars (clinical care, teaching, and research), with a primary focus on clinical activities.

• Your week will consist of clinical activities for 4 out of 5 days, focusing on non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatments, including mucogingival surgery, implantology, and aesthetic corrections:
  • CLINICAL CARE: as a medical staff member, you demonstrate a quality-driven and innovative approach to providing excellent patient care in secondary and tertiary care settings. You possess the appropriate attitude to work with specific patient groups.
  • TEACHING AND EDUCATION: you are prepared to provide theoretical and practical training to students in the Bachelor/Master in Dentistry and Master-after-Master in Specialized Oral Care, Periodontology programs. You will also supervise these students during their clinical internships.
  • CLINICAL RESEARCH: you have a proven track record in clinical-scientific research and are committed to making an active contribution to the field of periodontology, including implantology.
• With a positive spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration and patient focus, you build constructive relationships and demonstrate strong communication skills in consultation, information sharing, and teamwork.
• You have organizational talent and are able to set the right priorities and maintain structure, even under stressful circumstances.
• You uphold the vision and values of UZ Leuven as an international medical expert center.
• You represent the Medical Department Dentistry within UZ Leuven and KU Leuven, professional organizations, as well as in a number of governmental institutions.
• You strengthen existing partnerships and establish new collaborations with national and international organizations in the field of periodontology.
  
• In terms of people management, you can manage and inspire colleagues and collaborators, or you are willing to develop these competencies.
• As staff member, you will have the opportunity to treat private patients during individual consultation hours.

What do you need?

• You are recognized in Belgium as a Dental Specialist in Periodontology or willing to apply for recognition.
• You have completed a Ph D following public defence of your thesis.
• You have a clear clinical track record and an interest in clinical work.
• You have extensive knowledge of modern treatment protocols in dentistry and are highly skilled in advanced diagnostic and surgical treatment techniques in periodontology, including implantology.
• Experience with the diagnosis and treatment of non-plaque-related oral diseases and halitosis is a plus.
• Expertise with the application of digital workflows in periodontology and implantology is an advantage.
• A good knowledge of Dutch and English is required, a mastery of French is a plus.
• You are communicative in your relationship with colleagues, students, and staff.

Candidates who do not yet sufficiently master Dutch are expected to achieve proficiency within two years, reaching CEFR level B2 to provide dental care, other services, and education correctly in Dutch. Candidates not recognized as general dentists in Belgium are required to promptly initiate the recognition process according to the NARIC-Flanders guidelines: https://www.vlaanderen.be/nl/naric-vlaanderen.

What do you get in return?

• A challenging position in a dynamic and complex hospital organization with continuous development opportunities at a professional level.
• A tenured staff position with numerous extra-legal benefits.
• Possibility to be appointed as a KU Leuven clinical lecturer for academic teaching assignments.
• After a 12-month trial period and a positive evaluation, you will be able to join the Permanent Dental Staff (VTS) of the Medical Department Dentistry,
• After one year, you can possibly apply for a 20% part-time academic staff professorship (ZAP) position (KU Leuven, Department of Oral Health Sciences), if human resource units to this end are available, while you also meet the research profile requirements.

Ready to break grounds?

Send your application letter with an extensive curriculum vitae, including the reference number of the vacancy (2431), before 31/03/2025 to UZ Leuven, Medical Department Dentistry, attn. prof. Guy Willems, Kapucijnenvoer 7 block a - box 7001, 3000 Leuven, or by email to guy.willems@uzleuven.be with a copy to UZ Leuven, General Management, attn. the Chief Medical Officer prof. G. Van Assche, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, or by email to gert.vanassche@uzleuven.be.