D.C.M. (Danielle) Veenma, PhD

My everyday goal as a clinician-scientist is:

• To build stronger bridges between the Departments of Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics in both research as well as in the clinical field.

• Set up the “Natural History CAMKII” study

My Clinical Activities

As a Developmental and Genetic Paediatrician (EAA-pediatrics in Dutch) I am specialized in the (often) complex care of children which are born with (multiple) congenital anomalies and/or developmental delay. Since a genetic etiology is suspected in a large percentage, I help organize the diagnostic process as part of a multi-disciplinary team of doctors. Moreover, our team of EAA pediatricians offers syndrome-specific and personalized tertiary follow-up for children with rare (genetic) disorders. Although we often do not have a cure to offer, our goal is to improve their day-to-day life’s including the ones of those that take care of them.

• Erasmus MC Sophia ENCORE.
• Expert Centre for Neuro-cognitive Disorders.
• Expert clinic for children with the ultra-rare disease CAMK2.

In this outpatient clinic we offer tertiary care by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors and paramedics (physio- & speech language therapists) to children that have a mutation in one of the CAMKII subunit genes, and as a result are delayed in their development, among other medical problems. This clinic is part of ENCORE. As recent as 2018, our group (van Woerden) in collaboration with international scientists (Kury et all) were the first to identify over 20 patients with this disease. Currently over 45 patients.

Education

• Sept 2018 - Dec 2019: Developmental Pediatric & Genetic Fellowship, Erasmus MC Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
  (Sub-specialty confirmation pending 2019).
• July 2017 - June 2018: Clinical and Metabolic Fellowship, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Diploma 2018).
• April 2012 - May 2017: Pediatric Residency, Erasmus MC Sophia, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
• Achieved the title of Pediatrician (April 15th 2017).
• Feb 2008 - June 2012: Dissertation, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, achieved the title of Doctor (Dr.) June 6, 2012.
• June 2003 - July 2005: Medical exam, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Medical degree (MD) (cum laude) July 29, 2005.
• 2000 - 2003: Medicine, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Master of science in Medicine (M.Sc.) degree achieved on May 9, 2003.
• 1996 - 2000: Medical Biology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Master of Science – Medical Biology (M.Sc.) degree achieved August 9, 2000.
• 1991 - 1996: Secondary School Diploma, “Sint-Michiel Lyceum” Geleen, The Netherlands, graduated June 21, 1996.

Courses

• 2017 - 2018: Selected courses within the Clinical Genetic Fellow in Training track The Hospital for Sick children, Toronto.
• Whole Genome and exome Sequencing: Data Analyis Boot Camp.
• 26th Annual new developments in Prenatal Diagnosis & Medical genetics.
• Fellows Core Curriculum Track III, PAS meeting 2018.

Erasmus MC Sophia, Rotterdam.

Re-certification Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS, Oct 31st - Nov 2nd).

• 2008 - 2017:
  Selected courses within the Pediatrician in Training track, cluster Erasmus MC Sophia.
  Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) + Neonatal Life Support (NLS)
  Diabetes.
  Asthma.
  Epilepsy.
  Teach the Teacher.
  Child abuse indicators.
  Hospital management.
  Medical law.

• 2011 - 2013:
  The Dutch Association of Pediatrics (NVK), “Training Upcoming Leaders in Paediatric Science” (TULIPS), PhD-curriculum).
  Selected PhD-program courses in Biomedical Genetics, the Molecular Medicine Postgraduate School Erasmus MC and the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences.

Deficiency of FRAS1-related extracellular matrix 1 (FREM1) causes congenital diaphragmatic hernia in humans and mice.
Beck TF, Veenma D, Shchelochkov OA, Yu Z, Kim BJ, Zaveri HP, van Bever Y, Choi S, Douben H, Bertin TK, Patel PI, Lee B, Tibboel D, de Klein A, Stockton DW, Justice MJ, Scott DA. (2013). Hum Mol Genet. 2013 Mar 1;22(5):1026-38.

Etiological and pathogenic factors in congenital diaphragmatic hernia. 
Sluiter I, Veenma D, van Loenhout R, Rottier R, de Klein A, Keijzer R, Post M, Tibboel D. (2012). Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2012 Oct;22(5):345-54.

Mouse model reveals the role of SOX7 in the development of congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with recurrent deletions of 8p23.1.Margaret J. Wat, Zhiyin Yu, Danielle Veenma, Monica Garcia, Andres Hernandez, Ashley M. Holder, Jeanette J. Wat, Yuqing Chen, Mary Dickinson, Dick Tibboel, Annelies de Klein, Brendan Lee, Daryl A. Scott. (2012). Hum Mol Genet. 2012 Sep 15;21(18):4115-25.

Developmental and genetic aspects of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. 
Veenma DC, de Klein A, Tibboel D. (2012). Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012 Jun;47(6):534-45.

Copy number detection in discordant monozygotic twins of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) and Esophageal Atresia (EA) cohorts.Veenma D, Brosens E, de Jong E, van de Ven C, Meeussen C, Cohen-Overbeek T, Boter M, Eussen H, Douben H, Tibboel D, de Klein A. (2012). Eur J Hum Genet. 2012 Mar;20(3):298-304.

Erasmus MC

• 2012 - 2017: Supervising various interns in training for general practice.
  Member of the Pediatric Education Committe.

• 2010: Supervising final internship student Biology and Laboratory Sciences (analyst) Rotterdam University, R. of der Hoek.

• 2009: Supervising final internship Masters student Environment and Physics, Subject: “Gene-environmental factors in CDH” Open University, E. Brosens.

• 2009: Supervising final internship student Biology and Laboratory Sciences (analyst), Rotterdam University, E. of Putten.

Research

• Feb 2007 - Feb 2008: PhD student-physician, “Erasmus MC Sophia” Rotterdam, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology.
  Supervisor: Prof. Dr. A.C.S. Hokken-Koelega

• 2021: Research Grant Sophia Stichting (€ 85.000).
• July 2017 - June 2018: Personal Grant University of Toronto (77,342.97 CAD) for Clinical fellowship.
• Feb 2005 - April 2005: Scholarship for Clinical Clerkship in Pediatric Medicine, Department of pediatric infectious disease, Kansas University Medical Centre, Kansas, Missouri, USA .
  Supervisor: Prof. C. T. Cho.