Geert D’Haens graduated from medical school at the Katholieke Universiteirt Leuven, Belgium in 1987.

Professor D’Haens specialized in gastroenterology at the University of Chicago Hospitals, USA and University Hospitals Leuven in 1990-1992. He was board certified in internal medicine in 1992. He defended his Doctoral Thesis in 1996. Currently Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at the Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Professor D’Haens is a specialist gastroenterologist with a clinical interest in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and gastrointestinal oncology. He has particular expertise in mucosal immunology, gastrointestinal endoscopy and immunosuppression related to IBD.

Professor D’Haens was elected to the International Organization for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD) in 2003 and is currently Chairman of the organization. In 1999, D’Haens was co-founder of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO).

He is a member of other societies including a Fellowship of the American Gastroenterological Association (2006) and the European Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Research Committee.

Professor D’Haens is the recipient of several awards including the “Silver Medal for Inflammatory Bowel Disease” from the World Congress on Gastroenterology, Vienna, 1998.

With over 250 peer reviewed scientific articles and 37 chapters in medical textbooks, Professor D’Haens has an impressive publication record and is widely recognized as an expert in the area of digestive diseases.