Maurits Allessie MD, PhD

Dr. Maurits Allessie is an emeritus professor of physiology at Maastricht University. As an electrophysiologist, he developed better insights into atrial fibrillation. He obtained his MD from the University of Amsterdam in 1974, and his PhD from Maastricht University in 1977. He became a professor of physiology at the latter university, and seven years later he became head of the department. During his career, Allessie studied heart problems.

In 1998 he received the Distinguished Scientist Award of the Heart Rhythm Society, and in 2011 the Founders Lectureship Award. Allessie became a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. The academy praised Allessie for developing better insights into atrial fibrillation and electrophysiology of the heart. He was a professor between 2003 and 2008. Allessie has stressed the importance of classical/integral physiology in research and education.