FAQs
On Call Schedule
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Yes, since ou service operates 24/7, weekends must also be covered.
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Kidney Presrvationists submit their availability using a color-coded system
Green - fully available
Orange - Limited availability
Red - not available
The Operational Manager then creates a preliminary schedule based on these inputs.
This draft is shared with all the Kidney Preservationists, who may propose swaps among themselves until the start of the month.
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Summer period - 1 July until the start of the new academic yea-
Each Kidney Preservationist will take a maximum of 3 full on-call weeks (no individual 24-hour shifts).
By scheduling complete weeks instead of separate days, the workload is concentrated and the rota is easier to organise. No one will be assigned more than three such on-call weeks during the summer.
If a student is unavailable for an entire month (eg august), their on-call weeks will be scheduled around this period (eg July and September)
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Organ donation follows an unpredictable, wave-like pattern rather than a steady rhythm. Some months may bring multiple cases for you, while others may have none at all.
Annual volume: We process approximately 150 cases per year, averaging about 15 cases per Kidney Preservationist.
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You must be available for at least 8 days per month to be included in the on-call schedule. Since your studies do not require daily mandatory attendance, this should generally be feasable. However, if you have significant commitments outside your studies, it may become challenging.
Before applying, please carefully evaluate your full schedule and ensure you can meet this availability requirement.
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No, weekend-only availability is not possible. We are a small team that requires flexibility throughout the week. If several Kidney Preservationists are only available on weekends, we cannot maintain a 24/7 service.
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The feedback we generally receive is that this availability does not impact their studies; in fact, quite the opposite. When asked if they would like to take on additional on-call shifts, most students respond positively. By not scheduling anything else on these days, many students actually use their on-call time as study time.
FAQs
Pick-up by FullControl
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This depends on where in Brussels due to the general congestion in the city.
We currently have a Kidney Preservationist from Uccle who can be picked up without any issues. However, if you are from the Anderlecht/Forest area, this is not within the 30-minute radius.
It is something we have to take a look at individually.
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Pickup locations are determined on an individual basis. Whenever multiple students live in the same region, we aim to designate a single, convenient shared pickup point that is easily accessible.
Examples:
- Students from Antwerp: usually Mechelen station
- Students from Ghent: usually a major Brussels station
- Students from Leuven: typically Leuven station or Campus Gasthuisberg
We always evaluate the options individually to find the most practical and efficient solution for each student. Your preferred or most convenient location will be discussed and confirmed during onboarding.
FAQs
The Kidney Preservationist in Action
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Waiting times vary considerably and are largely outside our control due to the coordination of multiple national and international teams involved in organ donation.
What to expect:
- In the best cases, you start immediately upon entering the operating theatre.
- More commonly, you may wait 1–2 hours (and occasionally longer) before kidney recovery begins.
During any downtime, and when the clinical situation permits, you can either observe the multi-organ procurement or relax in a staff rest area.
FAQs
Are you a suitable candidate?
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We do not expect full bilingual fluency. A solid working knowledge of both Dutch and French is sufficient.
You should be able to:
Introduce yourself confidently
Ask for directions or basic information
Hold a short, functional conversation (e.g., with the transplant coordinator or nursing staff)
What matters most is that you are not afraid to speak your non-native language. It is perfectly acceptable to search for words or make minor mistakes, as long as you demonstrate a willingness to communicate and improve.
Tip for the application video:
Use the level of Dutch/French you actually have. We strongly prefer an authentic effort over a perfectly scripted text prepared with external help (e.g., ChatGPT) and read aloud. In the operating theatre, you will not have AI assistance…
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This is a personal decision that only you can make.
The value of the role depends entirely on your own goals.
If your primary aim is purely clinical or medical experience, other opportunities may align more closely with your curriculum.
However, if you are seeking substantial personal and professional growth — including leadership, high-stakes responsibility, communication under pressure, and the ability to perform independently in complex environments — this position offers exceptional development potential that few other experiences can match.
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We require a commitment of 1.5 years (from February 2026 to August 2027). If you are currently in the first year of your master’s program at, for example, KU Leuven, you will begin your internship in February 2027 and therefore would not be able to meet this requirement. If you plan to take a gap year before your internship year, you may still be eligible.
If you are unsure, please send us your situation via the contact form, and we will be happy to provide you with an answer.
FAQs
Training Week
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No, you will only become a Kidney Preservationist (In training) after passing your sign-off. Therefore, there is no compensation for the training.
However, we will provide the lunch and you will receive reimbursement for expenses. The training-week should not cost you anything.
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This depends on which days. On some days it is essential that you are present since the operation of the equipment will be explained. On other days, the training day is meant for voluntary practice so your absence is less of an issue. Our advise is to apply and we will see individually how we can overcome your absence.
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