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About us

Be-Pics is a multidisciplinary non-profit organization (medical and paramedical), founded in November 2020, which brings together healthcare professionals working in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU’s) in Belgium. Be-Pics formalizes pre-existing medical collaborative initiatives (previously BVKI/ABIP or Belgische Vereniging voor Kinder-Intensivisten / Association Belge des Intensivistes Pédiatriques) and expands it membership to nurses and other paramedical specialties, as psychologists and physiotherapists, involved in the care for critically ill children. We further offer membership to all those healthcare professionals supporting our goals.

Our aims

Being a small specialty, the Pediatric Intensive Care community believes its strength lies in its close professional relationship and in the multidisciplinary character of our group. The core aim of Be-Pics is to promote the quality of Pediatric Intensive Care through training, research and education. Be-Pics also collects and disseminates information, supports establishment of a Belgian PICU-registry and aims to offer a forum for discussion. Be-Pics wants to convey the knowledge and organization in the field of Pediatric Intensive Care in a positive manner to the public, and seeks to transparently represent the view of its members on a national (other societies, policy makers) and international level.

Fortunately, life-threatening conditions in children are rare. However, there are important differences in the presentation and treatment of diseases leading to organ failure in children, when compared with adult patients. In addition, technical support for children with organ failure requires appropriate equipment, knowledge and experience. A holistic approach with attention to the specific psychological needs of the child and it’s family is crucial and requires the necessary expertise. In our view, care for critically ill children should be centralized in specially equipped units with specifically trained physicians and nurses, and with support from other relevant pediatric specialties. That is why we strive for the recognition of Pediatric Intensive Care Departments, as well as for the recognition of specific training programs, both in Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine as for PICU-nurses in Belgium.

To meet European standards, we work closely together with the European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care (ESPNIC).

Be-Pics aims to be an organization FOR and BY its members. As this will define how strong we are, we welcome all members to join the scientific or educational working groups and help shaping YOUR Be-Pics.

Currently we represent members working in different Belgian hospitals providing dedicated PICU-facilities.

Governing Board

Jef Willems – Chairman

UZ Gent

Lars Desmet – VICE-CHAIRMAN, CHAIR EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

UZ Leuven

Emilien Derycke – Secretary

UCL Brussels

Daphné Vens – Treasurer

HUDERF Brussels

Els Duval – CO-CHAIR of Educational Affairs

UZ Antwerpen

Tom Schepens – Chair of Scientific Affairs

UZ Antwerpen

Mélanie Bauwin – Board Member Nursing

UCL Brussels

Isabelle Rohart – Board Member Nursing

UZ Gent

Jean Papadopoulos – Board Member Medical

Groupe Jolimont

André Mulder – Board Member Medical

CHC Liège

All news

On January 21st, 80 Be-Pics members attended our virtual meeting ‘Life on PICU during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemia’. You can watch the presentations by Els Duval and Séverine Goenen again.

Job offer : PICU Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc

PICU Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc is looking for an experienced full time equivalent (F/M/X) pediatric intensivist. Job offer for 1 year with possibility of permanent position including scientific project. Candidacy wanted before half of July 2024. Please mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Job offer: Resident, Hospital Professor

Job offer: Resident, Hospital Professor (associated or not), Universitary Hospital Praticioner (Senior or not) (H/F/X) with full-time appointment at the PICU.

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1st BePICS research day (new date!) - Wednesday May 29th, @ UCL Brussels

We have organized a half day symposium, free of charge, with presentations relevant to anyone doing clinical research in a PICU, combined with free paper sessions. Attendees are invited to submit an abstract, or a research topic to discuss with colleagues.

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