On Valentine’s Day 2025, Dr. Miriam Stolwijk defended her dissertation with much applause at Amsterdam UMC, marking an important milestone in her (academic) career. Her research, known as the VIP-path study (Visually Impaired Person Path), focused on the crucial process of referring patients with eye conditions to low vision service organizations in the Netherlands and Germany. This was not only a triumph for Miriam herself but also a step forward in improving care for people with visual impairments.
Groundbreaking research on visual rehabilitation
Miriam’s study maps out how and why some people access visual rehabilitation care while others do not. With an estimated 300,000 people in the Netherlands living with severe visual impairments, this research is invaluable for improving care pathways and the quality of life for this group.
Multifaceted approach
The VIP-path study consisted of several substudies, each offering a unique perspective on the complex referral process:
- Interview study: Conversations with patients and healthcare professionals to understand their experiences and perspectives. This gave Miriam in-depth insight into the challenges and successes faced by people with visual impairments.
- Vektis study: An analysis of “big data” from claims data of health insurers to identify predictors of referral to visual rehabilitation. This provided her with an overview of larger trends and patterns in healthcare.
Implications for practice
The insights from Miriam’s dissertation research could lead to detecting (sub)optimal referral pathways to visual rehabilitation and concrete recommendations for practice. This can range from improvements in communication between ophthalmologists and patients to optimizing informational materials about rehabilitation options. It’s as if she has outlined a blueprint for better future care.
Collaboration and future perspective
The research emphasizes the importance of close collaboration between academic institutions and expert centers for people with visual impairments. This synergy is essential for developing healthcare innovations that can improve the quality of life for the visually impaired and blind. It’s a great example of how science and practice can go hand in hand to make a difference.
With the successful defense of her dissertation, Dr. Miriam Stolwijk has not only reached a personal milestone but also made a significant contribution to the field of low vision research. Her work will undoubtedly have a positive impact on future care for people with visual impairments in the Netherlands and beyond. It’s a brilliant start to a career that promises much for the future of visual rehabilitation care.