In Memoriam Harry Crebolder

With his passing, Maastricht University and the Department of General Practice are bidding farewell to a prominent professor specialising in first line healthcare and transmural care.

Harry started his career at the university in 1986, initially as a first line healthcare education coordinator (ELOC). In the early years, he combined his work in Maastricht with a position as a general practitioner in the Withuis health centre in Venlo. He was one of the founding fathers of this centre – one of only three such centres in the entire country at the time. He was appointed department chair for a first term in 1990 and soon became a strong advocate of the academic emancipation of general practitioners.

Harry was an avid reader until shortly before his passing and he inspired many by sending them the articles he found interesting. ‘Know your literature’ was his motto. Having a soft spot for African healthcare, he set up a tropical medicine working group for general practitioners (WHIG). This group will pay tribute to the memory of Harry Crebolder at this week’s annual congress. He was an exceptionally amiable person, always interested in the wellbeing of others, and a genuine GP who will be remembered with gratitude.

Prof. J.W.M. Muris
Chairman of the Department of General Practice Medicine