Dr. Duval Els
Biography
Els Duval graduated in medicine (MD) in 1988 at the University of Antwerp, UIA, with high distinction. She obtained her PhD degree both at the University of Antwerp (UA) and Utrecht (UU) on the topic entitled “High frequency oscillatory ventilation: about sine and pressure waves in childhood”.
She subsequently completed postgraduate training in pediatrics at the University Hospital of Ghent and a fellowship in pediatric intensive care at the University Medical center of Utrecht (UMCU). From 1993 until 2001 she worked at the PICU in the UMCU, followed by 15 years’ work at the PICU of the Queen Paola’s Children’s Hospital in Antwerp. After a short period at the PICU of the Medical University Centre in Maastricht, she recently started working as the clinical head of the PICU at the University Hospital of Antwerp.
Els has extensive experience in pediatric intensive care with special interest in respiratory (patho)physiology and family-centered care. She is a working group member of the Advanced Life support group and national director of the VZW GOKIN which organizes (pediatric) CPR training both for adults (professional and laypersons) and children. Her main interest is adult learning and improving the outcome for children in life threatening situations anywhere along the health care pathway, anywhere in the world. She is an instructor in APLS, PHPLS and EPALS, teacher at several schools, and frequently requested as an enthusiastic speaker on several topics concerning PICU and adult learning. She is an external advisor of the WHO and board member of the general assembly of VZW Rondpunt. In the evening and weekend, she is a full-time mother of three girls and a dog.