Head of Department
Prof. Dr. Steffen Rex serves as Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium. He holds board certifications in anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, and prehospital emergency medicine, and has over two decades of experience in academic cardiothoracic, vascular, and transplant anesthesiology in both Germany and Belgium.
His current clinical practice is focused on cardiothoracic anesthesia, pediatric (cardiac) anesthesia, and perioperative medicine. In addition, Dr. Rex is a board-certified OR manager. He has authored more than 350 scientific publications and acts as a reviewer for over 20 journals. With an extensive international network, he remains actively engaged in academic collaborations within anesthesiology and intensive care medicine.
Dr. Rex’s present research centers on the effects of anesthesia on the developing brain and environmental sustainability in anesthetic practice. His clinical interests include observational and interventional studies aimed at preventing and treating adverse outcomes related to anesthesia and surgery. He also maintains a special focus on anesthesia across extremes of age, including fetal and geriatric populations. His research receives support from public institutions, private philanthropy, and industry sources.
Dr. Rex is the current president of the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (EACTAIC) and member of the board of directors of the Belgian Society of Anesthesiology, Resuscitation, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Management (BeSARPP) and of the International Academy of Cardiac Anaesthesiologists (IACA).
