In Memorium Jan Molenaar 1932–2025

jpedsurg.org

Dr. Jan Molenaar was born in 1932 and graduated in 1959 from the Free University of Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit or VU for short). After three years as a missionary doctor in Papua New Guinea, he returned to Amsterdam for surgical training. In 1969, he spent a year in Pediatric Surgery with Dr. Davy Vervat in the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam. Back in Amsterdam, he set up a new Department of Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care, specially dedicated for surgical patients. In 1974, he returned to Rotterdam as Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department there, delivering his inaugural lecture as Professor in 1977.

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Article · Mar 2026 · 1 min read

In brief

Dr. Jan Molenaar (1932-2025) was a pioneering pediatric surgeon who established dedicated pediatric surgery and intensive care departments in Amsterdam and later led the Pediatric Surgery Department at Rotterdam's Sophia Children's Hospital. His career spanned missionary medicine, surgical innovation, and academic leadership as Professor of Pediatric Surgery.

Dr. Jan Molenaar (1932-2025) pioneered pediatric surgery in the Netherlands, establishing dedicated surgical ICU care for children.
After missionary work in Papua New Guinea, he trained under Dr. Davy Vervat at Sophia Children's Hospital Rotterdam in 1969.
He founded Amsterdam's first Pediatric Surgery and Intensive Care Department before leading Rotterdam's program as Professor from 1977.

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