Laura Zwaan

Laura Zwaan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health at Erasmus MC, with a strong research focus on diagnostic error, clinical reasoning, and patient safety in medical settings. Her academic work bridges cognitive psychology, epidemiology, and healthcare quality improvement.

• PhD in Diagnostic Reasoning and Diagnostic Error in Medicine, VU University Medical Center (awarded 2012)
• Master of Epidemiology, VU University Medical Center (awarded 2010)
• Master of Cognitive Psychology (awarded 2005)

Her research interests center on understanding how clinicians make diagnoses, the cognitive biases that lead to errors, and how technological tools such as diagnostic decision support systems can improve accuracy. She investigates factors like time pressure, information processing patterns, and system-level contributors to diagnostic failures, particularly in emergency departments and hospital care. Her work frequently employs experimental designs, eye-tracking, and longitudinal data analysis.

The trends in her recent publications highlight a growing integration of artificial intelligence in diagnostic processes, while emphasizing the irreplaceable role of clinician knowledge. Her studies often explore how AI tools interact with human cognition and how they can be optimized to reduce adverse events.

She was awarded the Mark L. Graber Diagnostic Quality Award in 2021, a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding contributions to diagnostic safety. Her research has been highlighted in policy sources, news outlets, and academic platforms, reflecting broad impact.

Laura Zwaan has supervised at least two junior researchers or students. She is actively involved in multicenter collaborations and contributes to high-impact journals such as The Lancet Digital Health, Medical Education, and Diagnosis. While no specific lab or team name is mentioned, her extensive network and co-authorships indicate strong collaborative research activity across Europe and beyond.