Founders
Air4ce Kids was founded in 2019 by Sandra van Duijn (nurse specialist) and Mirella Poorter (pediatrician).
From 2003 until the founding of Air4ce Kids, Sandra worked in the Children’s Asthma Team of the Alrijne hospital where she found her passion: working with children and their families. She always saw the child and the family instead of the patient.
With the founding of Air4ce Kids, a dream came true for her: her own asthma center where she could provide the best possible care in the way she wanted. Unfortunately, Sandra became seriously ill and died on February 1, 2022 as a result. She has shown that care can be done differently. The Air4ce Kids team will continue her way of working, her vision.
Team
This is our current permanent team: Mirella Poorter (physician and medical director), Sofie van der Reijden (physician and medical director), Arjan Wittkampf (lung consultant), Angela van Rhijn (nurse specialist in training), David van Tijn (pediatrician), Femke Razenberg (pediatrician) and Ans Uittenbogaard (medical secretary). It is possible that there are also people doing an internship with us and temporarily strengthening us, they are also listed below.
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When I was twelve, I decided that I would rather become a pediatrician than a flight attendant. Fortunately, I have never regretted this for a single second. I find medicine really interesting, and working with children is great. So I cannot imagine a better combination. Of all the things in pediatrics, I find caring for children with asthma the most fun. I have worked with Sandra van Duijn since 2003. First in the hospital, and then at Air4ce Kids. I am, just like Sandra was, crazy about cheerful socks and I love cooking and baking. From 2025 onwards, I will mainly work in the background and you will not see me in the consulting room that often anymore.
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Being a doctor, helping people, working with children, is the best job there is, as far as I’m concerned. Especially in an accessible and friendly setting like Air4ce Kids. I would like to form a team with children and parents, or with young adults. A team where everyone feels that they are really being listened to and taken seriously, so that we can make a tailor-made plan together. A plan that everyone feels comfortable with, instead of applying the same protocol to everyone in a short period of time. That way we can continue to learn from each other.
Years ago, when I was still working as a ward doctor in pediatrics at the then Diaconessenhuis, I infected Mirella and Sandra with the various sock craze. I also love colorful clothing and shoes. In addition to being a ward doctor in pediatrics (in various hospitals in the Netherlands), I have also been a program coordinator and lecturer at the Physician Assistant training in Utrecht for several years. Transferring knowledge and inspiring young colleagues for the profession is also close to my heart. In the meantime, however, I am fully focused on Air4ce Kids.
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Hi,
I have been a familiar face at Air4ce Kids & Young Adults for several years as a pulmonary nurse.
Before I started working here, I met Sandra in Davos during a conference. At the time, I was still working as a pulmonary nurse at the HagaZiekenhuis for adult patients with asthma and COPD. In January 2024, however, I made the full switch to Air4ce Kids & Young Adults. My experience with adults comes in handy with the young adults in our center.
I already really enjoyed working with children during my time as a scout leader. I have been attracted to caring and nursing from an early age. During that care and guidance, the patient and his/her environment are central to me. I think building a bond of trust is very important and helps me, but certainly also you as a patient. I also think that you and your parents should feel that sufficient time is taken and that you are listened to. Together we will make something beautiful out of it!
nurse specialist in training
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Hi,
I am the youngest member of the Air4ce family. After working for a few years in the surgical department of the hospital, I wanted something different… and that something different became Air4ce Kids & YA. I am super excited to work with you (and your parents) to find out what is best and works for you! As you can see, I am still in training to become a nurse specialist. This means that I still have to learn some things or perhaps approach them differently than you are used to. But that doesn’t matter, right? Together we will figure it out!
in training to become a specialist
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Working with children and families gives me so much satisfaction! Working together as a team with parents and children is what I stand for. In this way, as a doctor I can contribute to putting a child or young adult, together with the parents and environment, at the center.
After working as a youth doctor for years, I also wanted to follow the training to become a youth doctor KNMG, in order to then also complete the training to become a medical specialist doctor M+G (Society + Health). With the training I learn even more about working as a youth doctor, working with and within the social domain (such as education, poverty approach, youth care and municipalities). And very importantly, working together with other doctors such as general practitioners and pediatricians. At Air4cekids I do an internship to contribute as a youth doctor to the care for the children and young adults in the children’s asthma center. Of course I learn a lot here, about the disease asthma and its treatment. Even more important, I can contribute to patient-oriented work so that you really feel seen.
Hi,
From March 2025, there will be someone behind the counter 3 days a week when you enter the waiting room. Isn’t that nice? I worked as a teacher at a primary school for almost 25 years, but I was ready for something different. But I did want to continue doing something with children, because I really enjoy working with children. Now I am the one who welcomes you when you come in and we look together at how tall you are and how much you weigh. And if you or your parents call, you will often get me on the phone. I may not be able to answer all your questions or those of your parents about asthma yet because I am still learning, but I can ask everything to the doctors and nurses and then I will get back to you. I think it is important that you and your parents feel at home at Air4cekids and I hope to be able to contribute to that. See you in the waiting room!
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From a young age I knew for sure: I want to mean something to children. What started as a dream to become a teacher, grew into the desire to be a pediatrician when I was twelve. Working with children of all ages and developmental stages still gives me energy every day.
I have been a pediatrician since 2017 and have worked in various hospitals. My heart lies in pediatric allergy – a field that includes conditions such as asthma and hay fever. Precisely because these are often chronic conditions, you can guide children and parents for a long time and I find this very valuable.
At Air4ceKids I get the space to really take the time to guide children and parents in a pleasant, accessible environment outside the hospital. I believe in collaboration and open communication: together with you, your parents and the colleagues of Air4ceKids we form a team!
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In 2025 I started working as a pediatrician at Air4ce Kids.
What I find so beautiful about caring for children and young adults with asthma is that – with a few simple tests and a bit of patience – we can often TOGETHER find out exactly what is going on. And that we can then often TOGETHER find exactly the right medication to have as little trouble as possible with the symptoms that asthma can cause in daily life.
If you are being treated by us, I will try to explain to you (and your parents) as best as possible what asthma actually is, so that you can treat YOURSELF as well as possible and know how medication can help you. We really take the time to explain this in our center. We will then look together at which moments in your life you are suffering and how we can use medication to ensure that this is no longer the case. Because it is our intention that everyone who has asthma can live the life he or she wants, with as few complaints as possible. Even if you would like to become a very good dancer, singer, swimmer or footballer!
