Saskia Teunissen, is appointed as professor in palliative care and hospice care since 2014. She is an oncologynurse and health care scientist and an expert in palliative care for over 30 years.

The scope of her work has a patient-family oriented profile and an interdisciplinary transmural approach. Her research, innovation and education focuses on symptommanagement and interdisciplinary collaboration and communication in palliative care at home, in hospices, in nursing homes and hospitals.

Besides, the hybride approach of hospice care as a specific concept in palliative care and homecare for patients in the terminal phase of life is a specific topic in her work.

She is responsible for the UMC Utrecht Center of Expertise of Palliative Care and the collaboration of regional partners in palliative care, the consortium Septet. 

She is the independent chair of the national steering committee for palliative care to close the loop between research, education, patient care and national collaboration in palliative care.

Independent Chair Steering Committee National Programme Palliative Care 2021-2026, Dutch Ministry of Health

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dutch Palliative Care Foundation 2019 - 2023

Boardmember multidisciplinary professional organisation palliative care, Palliactief 2008-2013

Expert member Dutch Association for Hospicecare (AHzN)

Member scientific board committee National Society of Nursing (V&VN)

Board member Dutch School for Gynaeco-oncology and Pelvic Surgery Volunteering projects on oncology nursing courses in Indonesia

2022: Royal Award (Officer) on the order of Orange Nassau

2007: Boerhave ‘Serviendo Consumor’ oeuvre award (UMC Utrecht

1999: Orion personal development award (V&VN), leadership program

1989: Ventafridda palliative care visiting award (EAPC chapter Milano)