Eeklo (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The College Ten Doorn in Eeklo selected professor Marleen Temmerman as their ‘most talented former student’. Temmerman maintains a global position as a gynaecologist while she remains widely recognised for her dedication to women’s health and children’s rights.
Professor Marleen Temmerman, a globally renowned gynaecologist and advocate for women’s and children’s health, was elected the ‘most talented former student’ of College ten Doorn in Eeklo. The award was announced during the first Academy of the College ten Doorn, an event dedicated to inspiring current students through lectures by former teachers, students, and partners of the school. Director Tony Vermeire stated, “The nominations came in en masse, but Marleen Temmerman stood head and shoulders above the rest.” The ceremony coincided with International Women’s Day on March 8, adding significance to the recognition of Temmerman’s achievements.
Marleen Temmerman, the first female Belgian professor of Gynaecology, has made significant contributions to global health. She served in the World Health Organization (WHO) and founded the ‘International Centre of Reproductive Health’ at Ghent University, advocating for sexual and reproductive health as a fundamental human right. Although unable to attend the ceremony in person, Temmerman expressed her gratitude via video, reflecting on her time at College ten Doorn.
The professor could not physically receive her title, but in a video, she said she was honored. “I liked going to Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Doorn, where I studied Latin and Greek,” she reflected. “But I was a very rebellious teenager who constantly questioned everything and rebelled.”
“I didn’t get enough answers to the questions I had. That’s why I wanted to change schools when I was 16. But my father wouldn’t let me. So I looked for another solution: a central jury.”
She passed her exams in Brussels and went straight from the 5th year of secondary school in Eeklo to the university in Ghent. “In the years that followed, I still maintained very good contacts with the school. I wasn’t always the easiest in the class, but I was always revolutionary, they told me. And they supported me too. Maybe I left ten Doorn a year too early. In any case, I have very good memories of it.”
What is the significance of Marleen Temmerman’s achievements?
Marleen Temmerman leads as a pioneering force in the field of global health while focusing on women’s and children’s rights. She became the first female Gynaecology professor at Belgium, which allowed her to establish historical boundaries in a discipline controlled mostly by male academics. Through her WHO involvement and Ghent University’s establishment of the ‘International Centre of Reproductive Health’, she has proven her dedication to promoting sexual and reproductive health rights for all.
The work of Temmerman carries additional significance for areas that experience elevated maternal death rates because WHO reports that 287,000 female casualties from birthing occurred in 2020. HOwever, most took place in countries with limited resources. Through her work, she supports worldwide efforts to decrease mortality statistics and enhance healthcare accessibility. Her receipt of the College Ten Doorn recognition validates how education produces leaders who initiate societal transformations.
