dr. F.R. Halfwerk (Frank)

Engineering & Materials Science

# Surgery

Medicine & Life Sciences

# Aortic Valve
# Coronary Artery Bypass
# Coronary Stenosis
# Equipment And Supplies
# Heart
# Heart Failure
# Thoracic Surgery

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), Digital Society Institute (DSI)
Faculty of Engineering Technology (ET), Engineering Organ Support Technologies (EOST)
Faculty of Science and Technology (TNW), Technical Medicine (TG)
Faculty of Science and Technology (TNW), TechMed Research (TMR)

Frank Halfwerk (1989) obtained his Bachelor (2010) and Master of Science (2014) degree in Technical Medicine, with a specialisation in Reconstructive Medicine at the University of Twente. He also finished a Master in Health Sciences with a specialisation in Health Services and Management in 2014 at the same university. He started as a Technical Physician and external Doctoral Candidate in October 2014 in cardio-thoracic surgery at Thorax Centrum Twente (Medisch Spectrum Twente) and in the department of Biomechanical Engineering in the ‘Technology in Cardiac Surgery’ group of prof. Grandjean.

As of 2020, he works as an Assistant Professor in the Engineering Organ Support Technologies group from prof. Jutta Arens where he is principle investigator of the Cardiac Surgery Innovations Lab.

His focus is both on technical and applied innovations in cardio-thoracic surgery. This includes personalised rehabilitation after cardiac surgery with accelerometers and artificial intelligence, simulation-based surgical training, 3D-planning, and surgical technology assessment.

He was awarded the Prof. Snellen Award (2014) from the Dutch Society for Cardiology / Dutch Society for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the Prof. Schuijer Campus Culture Prize (2012) for 'combining excellent cultural performance with good study results'. His research was nominated for the prof. David Winter Young Investigator Award from the International Society of Biomechanics (2015).

He is co-applicant and project manager of awarded research projects and supervised over 70 bachelor- and master students.

Other interests include dancing in national and international ballroom competitions, playing chess, organising, politics, health care policy.

Halfwerk, F. R., Wielens, N., Hulskotte, S. , Brusse-Keizer, M. , & Grandjean, J. G. (2023). A mobilization poster stimulates early in-hospital rehabilitation after cardiac surgery: a prospective sequential-group study. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 18(1), 1-11. [83]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-023-02173-w

Duinmeijer, W. C. , Fresiello, L., Swol, J., Torrella, P., Riera, J., Obreja, V., Puślecki, M., Dąbrowski, M. , Arens, J. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2023). Simulators and Simulations for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An ECMO Scoping Review. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(5), [1765]. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12051765

Halfwerk, F. R., Clare, C. , Groot Jebbink, E. , & Groenier, M. (2022). Selected Abstracts from the 27th Annual Meeting of the Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine: Development and evaluation of a graduate surgical skills curriculum: How to make medical simulation data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Advances in Simulation, 7(Suppl 1), 7-8. [0009]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-022-00211-6

Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Fostering Diversity, Inclusiveness And Equity In Your Education. Poster session presented at Eat-Meet-Teach for Engineering Technology teachers October 2022, Enschede, Netherlands.

Thoonen, M. , Veltink, P. H. , Halfwerk, F. R. , van Delden, R. , & Wang, Y. (2022). A Movement-Artefact-Free Heart-Rate Prediction System. Paper presented at 49th Computing in Cardiology Conference, CinC 2022, Tampere, Finland. https://doi.org/10.22489/CinC.2022.190

De Graaff, M. R., Hogenbirk, R. N. M., Janssen, Y. F., Elfrink, A. K. E., Liem, R. S. L., Nienhuijs, S. W., De Vries, J. P. P. M., Elshof, J. W., Verdaasdonk, E., Melenhorst, J., Van Westreenen, H. L., Besselink, M. G. H., Ruurda, J. P., Van Berge Henegouwen, M. I., Klaase, J. M., Den Dulk, M., Van Heijl, M., Hegeman, J. H., Braun, J., ... Dutch CovidSurg Collaborative Study Group (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical care in the Netherlands. British journal of surgery, 109(12), 1282-1292. [znac301]. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znac301

Halfwerk, FR., Wielens, N., Hulskotte, S. , Brusse-Keizer, M. , & Grandjean, JG. (2022). A Mobilization Poster stimulates Early In-Hospital Rehabilitation after Cardiac Surgery: A prospective sequential-group study. Research Square Publications. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1975144/v1

ten Dam, L., Dijkstra, K. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). De QUALITY studie, effecten van eHealth op angstklachten en kwaliteit van leven van de postoperatieve cardiochirurgische patiënt. Cordiaal, 44(3), 82-85.

Halfwerk, F. R., & Polman, E. (2022). Jaarverslag Thorax Centrum Twente 2021: Terugblik op 2021. Medisch Spectrum Twente. https://www.mst.nl/p/Centra/thorax-centrum-twente/jaarverslagen/

Li, C. , Halfwerk, F. R. , Arens, J. , Misra, S., Warlé, M. C. , & S. M. Khalil, I. (2022). Controlled Helical Propulsion Against the Flow of a Physiological Fluid. Paper presented at 5th Annual International Conference on Manipulation, Automation and Robotics at Small Scales, MARSS 2021, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1109/marss55884.2022.9870248

Reintjes, M. P. T. , Wang, Y. , van Delden, R. , Klaassen, R., Lynch, W. , Veltink, P. H. , Grandjean, J. G. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Objectief in kaart brengen van patiëntmobilisatie na hartchirurgie met behulp van accelerometers: Op weg naar patiënt-specifieke strategieën. Abstract from Wetenschapsdag Medisch Spectrum Twente 2022, Enschede, Netherlands.

Halfwerk, F. R., Jansen, M., Plonek, T. , & Grandjean, J. G. (2022). Left Ventricular Aneurysm Repair: Long-Term Results of a Beating Heart Autologous Endoventriculoplasty Compared to Current Common Practice. Abstract from Annual Meeting of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland , SCTS 2022, Belfast, United Kingdom. https://www5.shocklogic.com/Client_Data/SCTS/al/SCTS2022/upload/FSCTS-SCTS2022-5343369-LeftventricularreconstructionSCTS2022PresentationHalfwerk.mp4

Halfwerk, F. R., Mariani, S. , Hagmeijer, R., Clare, C. , & Grandjean, J. G. (2022). Transit Time Flowmetry During Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: How to Make Clinical Data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Abstract from Annual Meeting of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland , SCTS 2022, Belfast, United Kingdom. https://www5.shocklogic.com/Client_Data/SCTS/al/SCTS2022/upload/FSCTS-SCTS2022-5344416-FAIRDatasharingSCTS2022PresentationHalfwerk.mp4

Halfwerk, F. R. , Klaassen, R., Lynch, W. , van Delden, R. , Veltink, P. H. , & Grandjean, J. G. (2022). In-hospital Patient Mobilization Quantification After Cardiac Surgery Using Accelerometers: What do Patients do?. Abstract from Annual Meeting of the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland , SCTS 2022, Belfast, United Kingdom. https://www5.shocklogic.com/Client_Data/SCTS/al/SCTS2022/upload/FSCTS-SCTS2022-5344399-MOVEMENTTSCTS2022PresentationHalfwerk.mp4

Halfwerk, F. R., Clare, C. , Groot Jebbink, E. , & Groenier, M. (2022). Development and evaluation of a graduate surgical skills curriculum: How to make medical simulation data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Abstract from 27th Annual Meeting of Society for Simulation in Europe 2022, Seville, Spain.

Halfwerk, F. R. , Groot Jebbink, E. , & Groenier, M. (2022). Proficient before practice: Graduate simulation-based surgical skills training increases confidence in technical skills. Abstract from 27th Annual Meeting of Society for Simulation in Europe 2022, Seville, Spain.

Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Keep Calm and Reconsider Graft Revision: The impact of coronary stenosis for beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting. Asian Hospital & Healthcare Management, (55). https://www.asianhhm.com/medical-sciences/keep-calm-reconsider-graft-revision

Martins Costa, A. F. , Halfwerk, F. R. , Arens, J., Wiegmann, B., Neidlin, M., & Thiel, J-N. (2022). Analysis of fibre configurations and specifications for the development of a novel, highly integrated artificial device combining pulmonary and renal support. Abstract from 10th EuroELSO 2022, London, United Kingdom.

Martins Costa, A. F. , Halfwerk, F. R., Wiegmann, B., Thiel, J-N., Neidlin, M. , & Arens, J. (2022). PULM6: Evaluating The Influence Of Fibre Replacement And Configuration For The Development Of A Novel Artificial Lung Integrating Oxygenation And Hemofiltration Membrane Fibre Layers In A Single Device. ASAIO Journal, 68(Issue Supplement 2), 87-87. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mat.0000841192.81813.75

Martins Costa, A. F. , Halfwerk, F. R., Wiegmann, B., Neidlin, M. , & Arens, J. (2022). Trends, Advantages and Disadvantages in Combined Extracorporeal Lung and Kidney Support From a Technical Point of View. Frontiers in Medical Technology, 4, [909990]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmedt.2022.909990

Dam, L., Broeke, M., Poot, A. M., Gilbers, M. D. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Noninfectious sternal wound inflammation after coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome: A no‐touch approach. Journal of Cardiac Surgery, 37(8), 2419-2422. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocs.16570

Wielens, N., Hulskotte, S. , Brusse-Keizer, M. G. J. , Grandjean, J. G. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Ziekenhuis mobilisatie na hartchirurgie: De Bewegen is herstellen! poster verbetert het fysiek functioneren op activiteit niveau. Poster session presented at Congres Cardiovasculaire Preventie en Hartrevalidatie 2022 , Ede, Netherlands.

Reintjes, M. P. T. , Wang, Y. , van Delden, R. , Klaassen, R., Lynch, W. , Veltink, P. H. , Grandjean, J. G. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Objectief in kaart brengen van patiëntmobilisatie na hartchirurgie met behulp van accelerometers: Op weg naar patiënt-specifieke strategieën. Poster session presented at Congres Cardiovasculaire Preventie en Hartrevalidatie 2022 , Ede, Netherlands.

Wielens, N., Roerdink, K., de Man, F. H. A. F., Lynch, W. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Consensus over postoperatieve leefregels na hartchirurgie: Zoveel mensen, zoveel wensen. Poster session presented at Congres Cardiovasculaire Preventie en Hartrevalidatie 2022 , Ede, Netherlands.

ten Dam, L., Dijkstra, K., ter Weeme, M. , & Halfwerk, F. R. (2022). Effectiviteit van eHealth in de thuissituatie voor cardio-chirurgische patiënten: Reductie van angstklachten en verbetering van kwaliteit van leven?. Poster session presented at Congres Cardiovasculaire Preventie en Hartrevalidatie 2022 , Ede, Netherlands.

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As a Technical Physician in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, I am involved in courses and modules of Technical Medicine, Health Sciences and Biomedial Engineering. Together with Erik Groot Jebbink, we completely revised the applied Surgical Skills course in 2015 in the Master phase of Technical Medicine.
Based on our own experience in different surgical specialities and our goal to give students a holistic approach on the surgical route, we now provide applied surgical skills in a simulation-based context.

Next, I am daily supervisor of interns in Technical Medicine at the Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Thorax Centrum Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital.

Bachelor

Master

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