dr. Floor Verstraete (MD)

Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to rise, particularly among older adults. One in five men and one in six women will develop skin cancer before age 85. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are the most common type, and recent literature projects a 140% increase in incidence by 2050 due to population ageing, environmental changes, and ozone depletion. The true disease burden is likely underestimated, as keratinocyte skin cancers (KCs) are often excluded from cancer registries.
Despite their indolent nature and its limited impact on health-related quality of life, standard management of BCCs continues to favour surgical excision. In older adults with multimorbidity, such invasive approaches may not align with patients’ preferences or care goals. Recent literature supports active surveillance (AS) as a valuable alternative for low-risk BCCs. However, no evidence-based care pathway currently exists worldwide for the safe non-treatment and surveillance of older adults with low-risk BCCs. This project is the first within dermato-oncology to focus on the development and evaluation of an integrated care pathway (ICP) for this population, thereby contributing to personalised and value-based healthcare.
 

In 2025, I obtained my Master’s degree in Medicine at Ghent University and began my residency in dermatology at Ghent University Hospital. Driven by a strong interest in the scientific foundations of medicine, and dermatology in particular, I decided to pursue a PhD trajectory. By combining my clinical training with doctoral research, I am able to explore this interest in depth and translate scientific insights into clinical practice, gaining valuable academic and clinical experience.
 

• Lab address: Campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Gent
  - Skin CRIG: MRB2 – entrance 38
  - Dermatology Departement: Nobel – entrance 7
• LinkedIn
• Floor Verstraete is involved in Skin Cancer Research Institute Ghent (SkinCRIG)
• Floor Verstraete is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks