“I feel very honoured and privileged to have been nominated and selected. It feels special that I am the first non-American to receive this prestigious award. My interest in interstitial lung disease (ILD), including sarcoidosis, was sparked during my training as a lung specialist in St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, under the leadership of Prof Jules van den Bosch. Since then, much progress has been made in the field of sarcoidosis worldwide. In all these years, I have been privileged to build up knowledge and contribute to improving care for sarcoidosis patients. We can rightly be proud of the development of multidisciplinary care for sarcoidosis patients in the Netherlands," said Marjolein Drent.

 Word of thanks by Marjolein Drent

The presentation of the Sarcoidosis Crystal Award coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Sarcoidosis Interest Group Netherlands (de Sarcoïdose Belangenvereniging Nederland). “I hope that this recognition will also bear fruit in the Netherlands and lead to greater awareness, attention and understanding of sarcoidosis in general and the problems patients struggle with.'' In September 2022, Drent was honoured to receive 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for her efforts on behalf of ILD patients worldwide.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disorder of the immune system. Every organ can be involved in the disease process and lead to symptoms. The main complaint is severe fatigue which can lead to all kinds of limitations in daily life. Patients regularly struggle with misunderstanding. The cause is still not entirely clear. It has to do with a combination of predisposition, exposure to certain substances and circumstances. Unfortunately, adequate treatment is not yet available. It often leads to physical, psychosocial, social, financial and emotional problems. A multidisciplinary approach with an important role for the patient is therefore highly recommended.

Text: Sandra van Dulmen, senior communications advisor and spokesperson at St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands