Koen Balcaen began his career as an Intensive Care nurse in the 1990s. After a year and a half, he became nursing manager of an Intensive Care unit. He also built up several years of experience in home care management. From 2002 to 2010, he was CNO of a non-university hospital and since 2010 he has worked as CNO and Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer.
In the university Hospitals Leuven more than 3000 nurses and 2334 Allied Health Professionals are currently working here.