An introduction to Aletta We are Aletta Thought for action - Together for more healthy years The Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health is a joint initiative of the University of Groningen and UMCG Table of contents About Aletta To Explore To Educate To Resolve Read about Aletta’s legacy, Scientific Director Jochen The Aletta Jacobs School of For many practice- how her DNA lives on in us, Mierau explains the aim of Public Health has the oriented issues, science and see the most the Aletta Jacobs School of ambition to create an offers relevant insights important events of her Public Health: facilitating impact in the field of and solutions. The Aletta life on the Aletta Jacobs things that work, and thus public health by gathering, Jacobs School of Public timeline. achieving more healthy expanding and passing Health offers advisory years. on skills. projects via Aletta Advice. Theme: Theme: Theme: Explore Capability Justice Resilience Collaboration Theme: Theme: Sustainability Participation P04 P06 P08 P10 P1 P12 P13 P14 P15 P16 P18 P20 P22 A vision of Aletta #1 A vision of Aletta #2 A vision of Aletta #3 Peter de Jong’s story about life. Why did Elena Agachi leave Margreet de Graaf explains why (Not really about staying alive). the Republic of Moldova for health can never be taken for Groningen? granted. Are you Aletta? In this brochure we explain what the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health stands for. Will you be a part of our movement, and help us realise our dream? Please contact us E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +31 50 3637098 rug.nl/aletta The Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health is a joint initiative of the University of Groningen and UMCG About Aletta Everyone has A committed their own talent movement Thought Aletta’s legacy Aletta’s DNA “The issue for action - lives on in us Together Born in a small village in the province of Groningen, of justice A lasting for more Sincerely The Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health - a joint difference healthy Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs (February 9, 1854 – August 10, initiative of the University of Groningen and UMCG - is 1929) was the first woman who successfully graduated healthy the proud flag-bearer of healthy ageing in the northern in Medicine (from the University of Groningen). She demands years! Netherlands. Rooted in fundamental research, we became the first female physician in the Netherlands, actively convey our knowledge and expertise through accomplished much in the field of medical care for the education, consultancy and integral collaborations. a sense of Unhindered by the daily debate, every person in the poor, and was a famous women’s liberation activist. In her honour we named our school after her: the Aletta northern Netherlands who wants to, can contribute to Jacobs School of Public Health. We keep her memory, a healthier world, together with us. This is how we keep duty” Extraordinarily Aletta’s DNA alive. legacy, ideas and values alive by continuously striving flexible for more healthy years for everyone. Discover the Aletta timeline — Aletta Jacobs — Aletta Jacobs Aletta’s Future 1854 1879 1883 1903 1919 2018 On February 9 Aletta Jacobs On March 8, Aletta obtains het Aletta gives the first impulse for the Aletta is elected president On August 10, Aletta Jacobs dies On March 15 the Aletta Jacobs is born in Sappemeer, doctor’s degree, and goes to struggle for women’s suffrage in the of the Dutch Association for in the Dutch city of Baarn, at the School of Public Health is Groningen (NL), as the eight of London. She comes into contact Netherlands. She serves the city of Women’s Suffrage. She keeps age of 75. officially founded. From this mo- eleven children in the Jewish with British social reformers, Amsterdam with a request to be placed that position until the right for ment on, we focus on the future. family of country doctor other female doctors, and the on the electoral list for the upcoming women to vote is embedded in Which feats are we going to add Abraham Jacobs and women’s suffrage movement. elections, but meets with refusal three the Dutch Constitution, in 1919. to Aletta’s timeline together? Anna de Jongh. times in a row. What can we contribute to Alet- 1899 1915 1915 ta’s legacy? How much impact 1871 1880 will we generate in the context With special permission of the Aletta opens a medical practice During the Second Boer War In this second year of the First In September Aletta meets of Aletta’s dream? Dutch liberal minister in Amsterdam, gives free (1899-1902), Aletta takes the World War, Aletta takes the with the American president Discover on the next pages how Thorbecke, Aletta is admitted consultations for underprivileged fate of the Afrikaners to heart, initiative for the organisation Woodrow Wilson, and proposes we plan to build Aletta’s future, as a student of Medicine at the women, holds courses, advocates condemning in fierce terms of the International Women’s to him to install a League of together with you. University of Groningen, initially the desirability of the use of the concentration camps that Congress in The Hague. The Neutral Countries that could for a trial period of one year. On contraceptives, and introduces the British set up for the Boers’ adopted resolutions are offered mediate in ending the war. his deathbed, Thorbecke grants the pessary (that until then women and children. During the to the heads of state of both It is said that Wilson based her the right to also take exams. was used to support prolapsed First World War (1914-1918) the belligerent and the neutral his fourteen points for the wombs) as such. she also devotes herself to countries. This brings Aletta foundation of the League of peace, both in and outside the international fame. Nations on that proposal. Netherlands. The Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health is a joint initiative of the University of Groningen and UMCG “He who Visions of Aletta #1 overcomes If Aletta really is who she says she is, I want to others be her ambassador is strong; I grew up in a warm family, where a healthy My name is Peter de Jong and my story is about life. attitude to life was paramount. My three brothers Not really about staying alive. and I were spoon-fed with sports: football, tennis, That I can tell it, is due to my participation in Lifelines. You gymnastics, volleyball, skating, skiing... certainly know that initiative: research among people in the he who northern Netherlands on growing old healthier. People’s We did it all. data are being collected, and that is extremely valuable, When we had a bit of a setback, our parents helped us because this enables scientists worldwide to continue to overcomes through it. “A person can do more than he thinks”, was my do fundamental research. mother’s motto. And my father’s: “Ik knibbelje allinnich My data showed that I was ill. Fortunately, I was diagnosed in foar God”. (I kneel only for God). time, and I could be helped adequately, so I have overcome Working on my health was more a matter of course the disease. Because I contributed to the quality of medical himself than a merit. Until 2007, when I was diagnosed with a science, I myself immediately benefited from the state of chronic form of leukaemia. Suddenly I became very aware that same medical science at that time. of my mortality. In 2012 I turned out to be resistant to I am still being checked every year. That makes me feel the medicines I used. My only salvation was a stem cell safe. That’s one thing, but a healthy lifestyle is of the is mighty” transplant. My brother appeared to be the ideal donor. utmost importance, of course. I already lived consciously, When I was cured, my condition had to be rebuilt from but I improved my lifestyle even further. Staying healthy is scratch. In the gym where I worked on that, there was something you have to keep working on. a quote on the wall that I will never forget: “He who I see it as my task to make others aware of this. overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty”. Together with my parents’ life mottos, that text was a great inspiration during my recovery period. Now I look upon that experience as a turning point, a I wish for Aletta that her movement becomes deepening in thinking and doing. I wouldn’t have missed manifest in the northern Netherlands and that it for the world. together with existing initiatives even more impact can be created in the context of ‘more healthy years’. If Aletta really is who she says she is, I want to be her ambassador. Although he was born in Groningen, 58 years ago, Peter de Jong is of Frisian origin. He lives in the city of Sneek, and works for the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. His colleagues see him as ambassador of a lifestyle awareness movement within the organisation. The Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health is a joint initiative of the University of Groningen and UMCG To Explore Theme: Capability Program: Healthy Lifestyle prof. dr. ir. Koert van Ittersum prof. dr. Koen Lemmink Faculty of Economics and Business Faculty of Medical Sciences n M Theme: Sustainability io e t th a o lu d a 2 Program: Antimicrobial Resistence v : E C o & n n c prof. dr. Alex Friedrich ig e s p t Faculty of Medical Sciences e s D & n o C i u t l n t Theme: Justice e u v r e e r s Program: Health Inequality P o : f 1 H d prof.