Executive Board

I’m Cédric, a 5th year surgical trainee at KULeuven and currently doing a PhD in Rectal Cancer at the Abdominal Surgery Department of UZ Leuven. As BAST board member, I would like to invest in organizing courses and networking events for junior trainees to get them familiarized easier within certain fields of surgery. This year, I’ll be President and course director as well. During my free time I enjoy executing triatlon!

My name is Gilles, surgical trainee started in 2019, finished a PhD about a Black Box in the hybrid operating room at UZ Gent in 2023. My PhD has a big simulation based education chapter so I’ll try to introduce some of these elements in the BAST to learn as efficient as possible! I’m currently working at AZ Maria Middelares Gent in my 5th year of training and I’m interested in cardiac surgery. Personally, you can find me cycling, training for a running event or enjoying a drink at the bar.

Hi, I’m Laurence Verstraeten and in my last year of surgical training at the Catholic University of Leuven. I have a special interest in Abdominal and Transplant Surgery and I just finished  a PhD in Abdominal Transplant Surgery at the University Hospitals of Leuven. As a member of the BAST board I like helping to create a platform for surgical trainees to provide them all the information they need throughout their training and to encourage them in enhancing their surgical skills with hands-on courses and theoretical sessions.

Hi, I am Brent, a third-year surgical trainee from KU Leuven. I am currently pursuing a PhD on inflammatory bowel disease and surgery at the Abdominal Surgery Department of UZ Leuven. Within the BAST board, I serve as Treasurer and Course Director.

As a board member, I find it important that BAST continues to create accessible, high-quality educational opportunities for all surgical trainees. I strongly believe in fostering a supportive community where residents can develop their technical skills, broaden their network and feel empowered throughout their training.

Hi everyone, I’m Sandra Müller, a lastyear general surgery resident at the University of Antwerp with a special interest in thoracic and vascular surgery. I’m particularly drawn to the evolving fields of robotic and endovascular surgery. As the secretary of the BAST board, I look forward to supporting surgical trainees by helping to organize educational opportunities, foster collaboration, and promote innovation in surgical training across Belgium.

I’m Amandine Donneaux, a sixth-year surgical trainee currently working at CHU UCL Namur in Dinant. I’m interested in bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery and abdominal wall surgery. I am the head of PR at BAST and a course director.

I’m Pieter-Jan Hermans, a surgical resident from KU Leuven in his third year of his surgical training in AZ Klina, Brasschaat. Last year, I joined BAST because I really believe in the added value of the hands-on courses and the community of surgical residents that comes with it. I hope to contribute to keep these opportunities possible for surgical trainees.

I’m a 3rd year general surgery resident and clinical research fellow at Institut Jules Bordet in Brussels, passionate about surgical oncology and innovation in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. I’m driven by a desire to push boundaries – in the OR and in how we train the next generation of surgeons. Lately, I’ve decided to channel all the running between wards and stair climbing into acutal training – cycling and running this time beyond hospital corridors.

Hi everyone! My name is Lies. I am a second year general surgery resident currently working and learning at ZAS Cadix in Antwerp. My key areas of interest are abdominal surgery and robotic surgery. In my first year as member of the BAST board I will be taking care of PR. My ambition is to connect younger residents with each another and with senior colleagues building fruitful professional relationships, and to guide them in exploring the different fields of surgery through the theoretical and hands-on workshops BAST organizes.

My name is Estelle and completed my surgical training last year, in 2025. I am currently working at CHU UCL Namur as a fellow in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
I became involved with BAST during my third year of training, and I only wish I had discovered it earlier. The program significantly helped me improve my technical and surgical skills. I sincerely hope that training initiatives such as BAST courses can one day be fully integrated into the surgical curriculum.