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To his surprise, clinical sports medicine professor and sports doctor Professor FJG (Frank) Backx of Maarssen received a royal decoration from Mayor Ap Reinders at his farewell reception on May 11. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Oranje-Nassau because of his great scientific and social achievements.
In his speech, Mayor Reinders summarized a long list of Backx’s accomplishments in his professional life. “You have had a major influence on a whole generation of sports physicians. You have raised the quality of sports medicine in the Netherlands and far beyond to a higher level. Reinders called Backx a figurehead, someone who has dedicated himself exceptionally to the institutionalization and professionalization of sports medicine.
Background information
In 1991, Frank Backx received his PhD in Youth Sports Injury Development and Prevention. From 2003 he worked as a sports doctor at the Utrecht medical center. In 2007 he was appointed professor of clinical sports medicine at the University of Utrecht.
Professor Backx received his award because since his doctorate he has been committed to the institutionalization and professionalization of sports medicine. In doing so, he played a pioneering role, which notably led to the recognition of sports medicine in the Netherlands as a medical specialty. He was the first in the Netherlands to hold this presidency. Partly thanks to his research, sports medicine is recognized as a medical specialty not only in the Netherlands, but also in Australia and New Zealand.
Backx is the leading figure in sports medicine with a major influence on the development of this profession. He has contributed to science (sports medicine) nationally and internationally, through numerous studies and hundreds of publications in (international) scientific journals. With his retirement, his glorious university career came to an end.
In addition to his teaching position, he also held many additional administrative positions which mainly benefited the company.
For example, Backx has been chairman of the medical committee of the Royal Dutch Korfball Association since 2001, where he was also a federal physician for eight years. Since 2003 he has been Chairman of the Advisory Board for Medical Affairs and Doping Prevention of the Royal Netherlands Swimming Federation. He has also held various administrative positions at the Sports Medicine Association (VSG), such as President of the VSG Sports Medical Annual Congress (2005-2015), President of the VSG (2018-2020), (Vice) President of the Scientific Council of the VSG (from 2015) and member of many committees of this professional organization of accredited sports doctors and doctors with an affinity for sports medicine.
Also locally, he worked for years as a member of the technical affairs board of the Christian korfball club CKV OVVO in Maarssen.
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