Study

Dr. Welvaart studied Medicine in Leuven (Belgium) after which he completed his medical exam (cum laude) at the University of Leiden.

He completed his surgical training at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Development of new surgical technique

In addition to his specialization as a thoracic surgeon and surgical oncologist, Dr. Welvaart also developed a special interest in functional disorders of the diaphragm.

At the VU Medical Center, he conducted research into functional disorders of the diaphragm, after which he completed his doctoral research in 2013.

The results of these studies can be read in his thesis Functional Disorders of the human diaphragm(English).

During this research into the function of the diaphragm, Dr. Welvaart developed his unique treatment method. This method has changed the standard treatment of a paralyzed diaphragm in the Netherlands. The recovery after the procedure is now significantly shorter and the chance of complications has decreased. As a result, there is more demand for surgery and a long waiting list has emerged.