After graduating in medicine in December 1975, I started training as a dermatologist on January 1, 1976 at the dermatological clinic of the Academic Hospital Groningen (trainer: Prof. Dr. A.H. Klokke). The training was completed on December 31, 1979. At that time, 4 years of training was considered sufficient to be able to practice dermatology independently. The profession was also less complicated then than it is today and there were hardly any quality requirements at the time. On February 1, 1980 I started my practice in the Carolus Hospital and the Willem-Alexander Hospital (WAZ) in 's-Hertogenbosch. Ten years later, in 1990, I handed over the practice in the WAZ to Dr. J. van Ulsen. After that I only practiced in ''het Carolus'' until June 1, 2002.

I would like to tell you more about my education and practice here, with all its ups and downs. Fortunately, there is a lot to laugh about for you as a reader, and not just about the cartoons I show.