Jean-Louis Vincent is a Consultant in the Department of Intensive Care at Erasme University Hospital in Brussels and a Professor of Intensive Care at the Université libre de Bruxelles.He is the editor-in-chief of ICU Management & Practice, Critical Care, and Current Opinion in Critical Care and member of the editorial board of many other healthcare publications. Prof. Vincent has received several awards including the Society Medal (lifetime award) of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, College Medalist Award of the American College of Chest Physicians, and the prestigious Belgian scientific award of the FRS-FNRS.
What are your key areas of interest and research?
Very broad – there are so many aspects of intensive care medicine!
What are the major challenges in your field?
To stop considering that all patients are the same. Focus on phenotypes.
What is your top management tip?
Always listen and think, and act only when required.
What would you single out as a career highlight?
Go and visit other centres - broaden your horizons.
If you had not chosen this career path you would have become a…?
Politician – it is important to act for society.
What are your personal interests outside of work?
Intensive care medicine (and enjoying life, of course!)
Your favourite quote?
‘Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.’
