General information
Irene Margreet Jacqueline Mathijssen
December 2018 Full professor
December 2016 Head of the dept. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Erasmus MC
June 2014-2016 MBA-health
December 2011 Extraordinary professor in craniofacial malformations
March 2005 Plastic surgeon, Erasmus MC
January 2005–April 2005 Craniofacial Fellowship Hopital Necker, Paris
October 2000 Doctorate “Craniosynostosis Clinical and fundamental aspects”
Research
Research focuses on congenital craniofacial anomalies, specifically craniosynostosis, rare facial clefts, craniofacial microsomia and facial dysostosis.
Over 6 million euros have been awarded by research grants.
Promotor of 20 PhDs, co-promotor of 2 PhDs
Research group of 10 PhD students
Reviewer of:
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery
Journal of Craniofacial Surgery
FACE
Management
Coordinator of European Reference Network on Rare Craniofacial Anomalies (2016-present)
Past-chair of the 24 coordinators of the European Reference Network (2019-2021)
(Vice-)President International Society of Craniofacial Surgery (2023–present)
Hosting the 22nd ISCFS congress in September 2027 in Rotterdam
Secretary-Treasurer International Society of Craniofacial Surgery (2013-2023)
Chair of the committee for development of national guideline on craniosynostosis (2010 and revision in 2019 and 2025)
Member committee for development of ERN guideline on craniofacial microsomia (2019)
Member committee for development of ERN guideline on Robin sequence (2021)
Member of Talent- and Innovation Council Erasmus MC
President of Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery (2006 – 2012)
Member of the guideline committee of the Society for Medical Specialists, 2013-2015
Member of the Taskforce of the Society for Medical Specialists, focusing on quality management in health care, 2012-2014
Publications & presentations
Over 230 international peer-reviewed articles
4 book chapters on craniofacial anomalies
Societal impact
FACE ME, artistic project within ERN CRANIO in which doctors and patients changes place. www.ern-cranio.eu/faceme
Patient and family version of the guideline on craniosynostosis (2023)
Establishing centralization of care in the Netherlands for patients with craniosynostosis in 2 expert centers
In praise of medicine lecture, De Doelen Rotterdam, October 7th 2016 http://player.companywebcast.com/erasmusmc/20161007_1/nl/player
University of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. January 5th 2016. Five lectures online at www.universiteitvannederland.nl
TEDX, Amsterdam. November 30th 2010 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4uA9mRWafc
Scholarships and prizes
The 2025 Lisa Vecchione lectureship as visiting professor Pittsburgh Childrens Hospital
Visiting professor Philadephia Childrens Hospital 2025.
The Whitaker lecture 2023, American Society of Craniofacial Surgery, Raleigh USA
The Skoog visiting professor 2019, University of Uppsala, Sweden
Co-promoter of the year 2008, Promerus
Best clinical paper Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – ASMS 2016
Best presentation NVPC spring meeting 2013
Best paper Journal Craniofacial Surgery of 2010
Best presentation 2nd annual meeting of the European Conference of Scientists and Plastic Surgeons, October 9th and 10th 1998, London. Awarded by the European Association of Plastic Surgeons, Madrid, May 1999