Geke Hospers

Adjunct Professor with the Discipline of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine (UPEI), Memorial University of Newfoundland
Emeritus Professor Medical Oncology

Oncology

What brought me to MUN?

Together with my husband Piet, we often visit Piet’s sister and her family on PEI. More than a year ago, I heard about the new medical faculty there, and I immediately felt enthusiastic about the idea that I might contribute in some way to supporting young medical students at the start of their careers.

I have been a Dutch medical oncologist at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), with nearly four decades of dedication to patient care combined with academic work. Throughout my career, I specialized in systemic cancer treatments and in guiding patients and their families through long-term and often complex care trajectories. I have contributed to medical education and to oncology research, both in basic science and in conducting and participating in clinical studies.

I have supervised more than twenty young researchers in completing their theses, and I am currently still coaching four young doctors as they finish the final steps of their dissertations. On November 20, 2025, I became an Emeritus Professor.

Piet and I raised five children together, and we are proud grandparents of seven grandchildren, whom we care for every two weeks.

Education

University Groningen

1978 - 1986 Chemistry

1986 Doctoral examination Biochemistry 1986. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J.J. Beintema
Main subject: "Is α-amylase an appropriate tumor marker for serous ovarian tumors"

1979 - 1985 Medical School

1985 Medical Doctor

1988 - 1993 Training in Internal Medicine

1993 Registered as Internal Specialist

1993 - 1995 Training in Medical Oncology

1995 - 2028 Registered as Medical Oncologist

Training:

Professional experience

1986 - 1988    Research on cisplatin resistance: University Medical Center Groningen. Thesis: "Mechanisms and circumvention of cellular resistance to cisplatin" Presenting professor: Prof. Dr. E. Mandema. Referees: Dr. N.H. Mulder and Dr. E.G.E. de Vries                                

1988 - 1993    Training in Internal Medicine at the University Medical Center in Groningen. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. W.D. Reitsma

1993 - 1995    Koningin Wilhemina Fonds (KWF) fellowship. Aim: To get acquainted with the relation between genes and cancer and especially their application to gene therapy and immunotherapy, and to become a certified medical oncologist. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. N.H. Mulder.

Visiting for 6 months: Laboratory of Prof. Dr. D. Valerio, TNO, Rijswijk, The Netherlands; to transduce bone marrow cells with the MDR-1 gene.

Visiting for 3 months: Laboratory of Dr. M.K.L. Collins, Chester Beatty Laboratories, London, England; to prepare a vector with two suicide genes.

Visiting for 3 months: Laboratory of Prof. Dr. T. Boon, Ludwig Institute Brussels, Belgium; to optimize a PCR for the detection of tumor antigens.

1995 - 2025    Medical oncologist at the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen.

2011   Professor of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

2019 - now      Member Medical Ethical Review Committee University Medical Center Groningen

2021 – now     Member of International Summer school UMCG

2025 - now      Member of Forum Visitatorum (NIV) as quality control of Internal Medicine in Dutch hospitals

2026                Emeritus Professor

2026 - now      Helping as a Medical oncologist at the Curacao Medical Center in periods of shortage

Research/Teaching Summary:

Training

2015, Dec: BKO (Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs/teaching certificate)

2025, Dec: Basic course in Regulations and Organization of Clinical Trials (BROK)

Teaching:

*    Medical students (tutor, bedside teaching, summer school, masterclass).

*    Biology students/pharmacy students (methods for gene delivery; detection methods of WR-1065) 

*    HLO students (investigated the detection of melano­ma cells in blood and lymph nodes).

*    Post-academic education for family doctors, specialists and nurses (immunotherapy, chemotherapy, different types of cancer, hormonal treatment).

*    Social groups, such as Societies for patients, Senioren Academy, giving lectures concerning immunotherapy.

*    Reviewer “Wetenschap” (as a member of the Commissie Omgaan met Wetenschap) in the context of the master training of the health medicine study.

*    Educational Sessions/masterclass on rectal cancer at for example:  ASCO, ESSO, ESDO, ESMO, All -Ireland Colorectal Cancer Conference, Canada (Rectal Cancer Surgical Education Institute).

Publications Geke Hospers:

Google Scholar or ORCID ID (0000-0002-3047-7892)