Arsène, a Pioneer of Integrative Medicine.

Arsène, a Pioneer of Integrative Medicine

Wallonia is a land that has nurtured generations of enterprising men and women who are bold, creative and, more often than not, ahead of their time. This is often overlooked, yet history does not lie. The facts speak for themselves.

Today, I’m taking you on a journey to discover a Walloon who, like others, has understood how to approach the future and is already living it. Their path is arduous, fraught with obstacles, jealousy and betrayal as their projects begin to show signs of success, as well as difficulties that the average person could never imagine. And yet they persevere. This is particularly true of the people of Liège, whose tenacity seems to be in their DNA. They are resilient: they fall, get back up and press on to bring their projects to fruition.

Follow me…

I’m going to tell you about a man. A man with several qualifications. A multilingual and experienced man. An intellectual who combines charisma with humanism. A man of genuine integrity, whose heart is open to everyone, including those who take pleasure in denigrating him or appropriating his ideas. He is no stranger to this kind of behaviour, which inventors in many different fields have suffered in the past and continue to suffer today.

You will better understand the man I am describing if I share the words of a talented writer.

Françoise Sagan recounts: “Jean-Paul Sartre once told me: ‘Very intelligent people cannot be malicious, because evil requires stupidity and narrow-minded thinking.’”

Like many inventors, innovators and creators, his talents and work receive little recognition. By nature, he is discreet and passionate about his mission to serve humanity. It is on behalf of all those whose contributions go unrecognised that I have chosen to tell you about an extraordinary doctor: Dr Arsène Lames.

A medical graduate of the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he also obtained a qualification in public and community health from the University of Nancy in France and undertook further training in gynaecology and obstetrics at the University of Lille in France. He also acquired expertise in project management and development at the University of Liège in Wallonia, Belgium, as well as in healthcare institution management at Brussels Business School, affiliated with the Université Libre de Bruxelles (in the capital of Europe and Belgium).

A truly humane man.

Since 1998, he has been working to protect and improve the well-being of people in Liège, regardless of their origins, beliefs, age, educational background or other circumstances. He has also fostered collaboration and the sharing of expertise between Wallonia and the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is worth noting that he has held, and continues to hold, a number of positions:

• In 1999, he became Project Manager at Coordination SIDA Liège, an initiative supported by numerous partners, including Liège University Hospital.

• From 2001 to 2014, he served as Managing Director of the non-profit organisation Santé Nord-Sud.

• In 2012, he founded the non-profit organisation Impact Emploi. He became its president in 2015 and held that position until 2019, helping thousands of people find employment in the Province of Liège.

• In 2021, he co-founded the Jemeppe Medical Centre, which he has led with great skill.

• In 2024, he founded a health centre in Grivegnée.

Today, he is taking on the challenge of creating a network of medical centres designed to operate in a new and revolutionary way, whose effectiveness is supported by numerous scientific studies—and that is not all. Dr Arsène Lames has a holistic, forward-thinking vision of medicine. He is determined to lead Wallonia, the land so dear to his heart, towards improvements in healthcare that will bring benefits on many levels.

In February 2024, I attended an international congress on integrated and integrative medicine in Paris. I was impressed. The statistics speak for themselves: integrating CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) and IM (Integrative Medicine) into conventional allopathic medicine and the existing healthcare system benefits everyone. Patients recover in a more humane and caring environment, which can reduce the need for medication and/or medical examinations. Medical staff face fewer incidents of aggression, or none at all, and can devote more quality time to each patient and to their colleagues during work meetings, for example. Finally, there is also a clear financial benefit for the social security system.

A network of medical centres integrating CAM and IM is emerging in France and enjoying considerable success. Dr Lames did not attend this congress and was unaware that it had taken place. His analysis of the current situation and his innovative projects therefore deserve wholehearted and strong support.

Dr Arsène Lames is the co-founder of the Jemeppe Medical Centre. Through this centre, he demonstrates the innovation and humanism he brings to public health, a field he knows well, and champions a holistic approach to care centred on patients.

Talented and enthusiastic about modern technology, he has transformed the way healthcare is delivered by combining technological advances with new social approaches. Like any doctor, Dr Arsène Lames understands that a patient's trust in their doctor is paramount. For him, there is no doubt: doctors must remain close to their patients. Geographical proximity, easy access to a doctor, and an understanding of patients, their surroundings, their concerns and even their homes can provide valuable information about their overall state of health.

At the CMJ, patients can also attend without an appointment. This allows people in vulnerable situations, including victims of violence, to find a haven of compassion and receive immediate, high-quality medical care. Dr Lames understands how valuable communication between doctors and patients is. He leads by example, regularly sharing educational, useful and accessible information on various social media platforms about a wide range of health-related topics.

These range from the benefits of eating a particular vegetable at a particular time of year to the importance of following a prescribed treatment or the usefulness of a relaxation technique. Health, as we all know, is also a matter of public awareness and education.

Dr Arsène Lames does not hesitate to implement communication strategies and make use of digital tools, platforms and social media.

As an expert in public and community health, Arsène brings his team together around exciting projects designed to ensure that patients receive comprehensive support at the centres within the network he plans to establish. He deliberately chose Jemeppe as the location for his first centre, with the aim of helping and supporting people in regaining their physical, psychological and social well-being.

2025 is the year of integration: the social and economic integration of patients experiencing precarious circumstances. At the same time, the “Vie en Santé” project, supported by the King Baudouin Foundation, is being developed. It will offer multidisciplinary care for patients with specific needs.

If you would like to contribute to this remarkable, people-centred and humanistic project as a therapist, doctor or trainee, do not hesitate to submit your application to Dr Arsène Lames.

Dr Lames is emphatic: he cares deeply about people. For him, taking on the long-term challenge of caring for people in ways that go beyond what is commonly understood as physical health is a necessity. He wants more. He wants better. He believes it is possible. He has the theoretical knowledge and practical experience to know that it is achievable and beneficial for everyone.

This Walloon man pursues and develops his projects with conviction, navigating the upheavals and difficulties life brings his way with faith and determination, while remaining unfailingly humble and modest. I have rarely met a man with such intellectual strength.

In his private life, Dr Arsène Lames enjoys laughing, painting, walking and admiring nature. He appreciates good food and quality produce. He deliberately leads a simple life and values meaningful moments and shared experiences.

Contacting Dr Arsène Lames is easy:

Telephone: +32 4 277 09 77
Email: lames.arsene.cmj@gmail.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/angus-arsene-lames-3393a029/?originalSubdomain=be
Website: https://www.centremedicaldejemeppe.be/arsène

I hope you enjoy discovering this remarkable Walloon man.

Victoria B. Lohay
Ambassador for Wallonia.Be

Photos provided by Arsène Lames

https://www.wallonia.be/fr/blog/des-etoiles-plein-les-yeux?name=lohay