“Here, you genuinely get time for people”

Martine on her Occupational Health traineeship at Capability and Rienks

She realised early on that the hospital was not where she wanted to build her future. Martine de Bruijn (27), an Occupational Health trainee at Capability and Rienks Arbodienst, explains: “I missed having the space to really talk to people. In the hospital everything revolves around the medical complaint. Here you look at the person as a whole: what is going on, and what does someone need to move forward again?”

From hospital doctor to occupational physician in training

After completing her medical degree, Martine spent a year and a half working in the hospital. She deliberately chose the more general medical specialties, such as internal medicine, pulmonology and oncology. She enjoyed the pace and the constant switching between tasks, yet the hospital environment still didn’t feel like the right place for her.
“The hustle and bustle itself suited me, and the fast switching definitely did too. I actually still use that in occupational health. Every consultation is different and every worker requires a different approach to get the right information. But in the hospital I missed having the time to really talk to people.”

That realisation grew into the wish for more calm, structure and depth in her work. “I wanted conversations that go beyond the purely medical side. Work is such an important part of someone’s life. When that falls away, it has a huge impact.”

Looking for an organisation that invests in people

During her search, Martine knew one thing for sure: she did not want to work for an occupational health provider where everything is about productivity. “Prevermo, the parent organisation of Capability and Rienks, immediately stood out because they actually invest in people. There is a clear learning pathway, strong guidance and plenty of room to find out whether this profession truly suits you.”

Since June, Martine has been following the Occupational Health traineeship. The first months were focused on learning and shadowing at Capability. “You receive a warm welcome, learn the rules and processes around absence management, and gradually work towards running your own consultations.”

She then moved on to Rienks Arbodienst, where a well-structured induction schedule helped her develop further independence. “That moment when you run your very first consultations on your own feels like a big step. Exciting, but mainly great.”

Aandacht én actie in de praktijk – attention and action in practice

She describes the supervision as exceptionally good. “At Capability I have a fixed weekly meeting, and at Rienks every two weeks. But honestly, I can ask questions at any time. That feels incredibly supportive.”

What she enjoys most is the diversity of the work. “You speak to people from every layer of society, from temporary workers to legal professionals. And so much depends on communication: how do you start the conversation, and how do you maintain the balance between employee and employer? That makes the work both challenging and very human.”

The traineeship also shows her how broad the role of an occupational physician really is. “You’re not only dealing with medical issues, but also with the mental and social aspects. Sometimes private problems play a role, sometimes the cause lies in the work situation. Figuring out that puzzle makes the work so interesting. You’re constantly in conversation, listening, analysing and thinking along with solutions. All with one goal: helping people regain their strength.”

A future full of opportunities

For Martine, the traineeship is the ideal stepping stone to the full specialisation in Occupational Medicine. “I’m gradually taking on more tasks and I’m learning every day. If I continue enjoying it this much, starting the formal training is the logical next step.”

She hopes to support patients in the future, but also to inspire other young doctors. “I want others to discover how varied and people-centred this profession is.”

Her message to young doctors? “Look beyond the hospital. In occupational health you have the time, space and attention for the person behind the complaint. And that makes the work so incredibly rewarding.”

Read more about working at Capability.