prof. dr. Nens van Alfen

Over Nens van Alfen

Nens van Alfen is a Full Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology at the Radboud university medical center in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. She obtained her MD in 1997 and cum laude PhD in the field of Neurology in 2006. Her areas of expertise include neuromuscular ultrasound, peripheral nerve pathology, brachial plexus neuropathies, and electrodiagnosis of neuromuscular disorders.

She is the director of the Radboudumc Clinical Neurophysiology laboratory, that performs 1400+ nerve and muscle ultrasound studies yearly, and receives visiting clinicians from all over the world for short training programs. Nens lives and breathes lifelong learning, teaching and collaboration across disciplines. She chairs the IFCN Society of Neuromuscular Imaging, that fosters international collaboration and implementation of neuromuscular ultrasound in practice and research.

Nens' current scientific focus is on advancing and standardizing muscle imaging in muscle dystrophies. She is married and has 2 children. 

Opleiding

• 1990 - 1997 : Medicine study (MD), Radboud University Nijmegen
• 1997 - 2004 : Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology residencies, Radboudumc
• 2006 : PhD thesis, with honors: 'Neuralgic Amyotrophy', Radboud university medical center
• 2014-2015: Radboudumc Leadership Course for healthcare professionals; certified
• 2019: Cursus “Opleiden in de klinische praktijk”, Radboud Health Academy; certified
• 2021: Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute online course “Introduction to Musculoskeletal Ultrasound”; certified
• 2021: Sonoskills Level2 MSK hands-on ultrasound guided injections course; certified
• 2024: e-BROK recertification

Onder­scheidingen

• 2000 ISNO Dutch Neuromuscular Research Support Centre PBF prize for best article by young investigator
• 2006 Dutch Society for Neurology, Residents' Prize for Best Trainer and Educator
• 2007 Boerhaave Committee for Postdoctoral Education prize for best teaching course "EMG for the general neurologist"
• 2017 Radboudumc resident supervisor of the year - runner up

Nevenfuncties

• President of the IFCN Society of NeuroMuscular Imaging
• Associate editor bij Muscle&Nerve
• Vice-voorzitter Kernconsilium Neurologie
• Neuromuscular ultrasound instructor Sonoskills
• Bestuurslid Nederlandse Vereniging voor Klinische Neurofysiologie

Expertise

• Neuromuscular ultrasound
• Brachial plexus disorders
• Muscle imaging
• Clinical neurophysiology
• Nerve trauma