Coen Hurkmans and Piet Ost Elected as 2025 ESTRO Board Members

Some leaders rise through the ranks by charting new paths; others leave deep footprints by standing firmly for collaboration, innovation, and patient-centered care. At the ESTRO25 General Assembly in Vienna, two such individuals were officially elected to join the 2025 ESTRO Board: Coen Hurkmans, a visionary medical physicist from the Netherlands, and Prof. Dr. Piet Ost, a pioneering radiation oncologist from Belgium.

Their stories are grounded not only in professional excellence but in a deep passion for transforming the future of radiation oncology in Europe and beyond.

Coen Hurkmans: The Advocate Behind the Algorithm

For Coen Hurkmans, medical physics is more than science—it’s service. Currently heading the radiotherapy department at Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven, Coen has spent over two decades building bridges between disciplines and pushing for smarter, safer, and more connected cancer care.

Coen’s leadership journey began early. As former President of the Dutch Society for Medical Physics (NVKF), he fostered a national voice for medical physicists. But it was his role as a co-founder of the Dutch radiotherapy physics platform and his efforts in ESTRO’s Physics Committee that spotlighted his dedication to uniting voices across Europe.

He doesn’t just build systems—he strengthens people. From mentoring young physicists to influencing European Commission policy through the SAMIRA initiative, Coen is driven by one goal: ensuring physics has a seat at every table that shapes patient outcomes.

“To improve radiotherapy across Europe, we need to empower future leaders, encourage collaboration, and connect science to strategy. That’s where I want to contribute.” – Coen Hurkmans

Piet Ost: Redefining the Edges of Oncology

If you’re seeking someone who’s never satisfied with “what’s already known,” look to Prof. Dr. Piet Ost. A radiation oncologist at the Iridium Network in Antwerp and a professor at Ghent University, Piet has made a name for himself by asking bold questions—especially in the realm of prostate cancer and oligometastatic disease.

His research is prolific, his leadership undeniable. As Chair of the EORTC Radiation Oncology Research Council and a dedicated member of several ESTRO committees—from the Clinical Committee to the Scientific Programme Committee—Piet consistently puts patients at the center of everything he does.

“Great care starts with great questions. We need to teach, research, and innovate together—because the future of radiation oncology is a collective effort.” – Piet Ost

Piet has also worked closely with ESMO, APCCC, and international guideline groups, helping ensure that clinical research directly informs global standards of care.

More Than Appointments—A Shared Mission

For Coen and Piet, joining the ESTRO Board isn’t just about titles. It’s about shared purpose:

• To bring disciplines together—bridging the clinical, technological, and human aspects of cancer care;

• To elevate emerging professionals, offering mentorship and opportunities across Europe;

• And to strengthen ESTRO’s voice in policy, education, and public outreach.

As ESTRO continues to evolve, these two leaders represent the kind of vision and values the oncology community needs: grounded, inclusive, and forward-looking.

Their journeys—rooted in science, built through service—remind us that leadership in cancer care isn’t about status. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and always asking: How can we do better for the people we serve?

Congratulations to Coen Hurkmans and Prof. Dr. Piet Ost on their election to the ESTRO Board.

A Call to Action: Your Voice Matters Too

The future of cancer care doesn’t rest in the hands of a few—it’s built through the collective work of many. Whether you’re a medical physicist, radiation oncologist, researcher, nurse, or patient advocate, you have a role to play in shaping what comes next.

As Coen Hurkmans and Prof. Dr. Piet Ost step into their new leadership roles on the ESTRO Board, let their stories serve as an invitation: to stay engaged, to stay inspired, and to never stop asking how we can do better—together.

• Follow the conversations.
• Share your ideas.
• And most importantly, keep showing up for the people behind the data.

For more stories like this—highlighting the people, breakthroughs, and bold ideas shaping oncology—follow OncoDaily on LinkedIn, X, and beyond. Because the future of cancer care deserves to be seen, heard, and shared.