Medical legend Bernadette Cuvelier is retiring: a farewell!

Medical legend Bernadette Cuvelier is retiring: a farewell!

An era in emergency medicine will end on December 31, 2025: Dr. Bernadette Cuvelier, an outstanding figure in the medical field, is resigning from her position after many years. Her career began with two years of study in Paris, followed by various positions in the medical sector, which ultimately made her a defining figure in the Charleroi region. Like [dhnet.be](https://www.dhnet.be/regions/charleroi/2025/12/31/le-dr-bernadette-cuvelier-fait-sa-derniere-garde-au-nouve l-an-celle-qui-a-forme-des-centaines-de-medecins-pompiers-et-infirmieres-prend-sa-retraite-R5W7DPNQ2ZGFRLTNWEXL6RWTOQ/) According to reports, Cuvelier not only worked as an emergency doctor with the firefighters, where she achieved the rank of captain, but also worked as a trainer for many paramedics and doctors.

In her role as a doctor in the mobile emergency and resuscitation service, SMUR, she has helped countless patients in critical situations. Cuvelier always had several cases in mind, which required a high degree of concentration and versatility. Her role included diagnosing injuries and assessing the severity of medical conditions, in some cases performing life-saving measures such as intubations or stopping bleeding. onisep.fr highlights the importance of the role of the emergency physician, as they often act as the first point of contact in crisis situations.

A life between emergencies and training

For over two decades, she shaped the operations of the fire departments and was also involved as a medical expert at major events. She passed on the knowledge and experience she gained during these years to hundreds of paramedics, doctors and nurses. With heart and dedication, she trained young professionals as paramedics, which reflects the high demand for qualified specialists in emergency medicine. The training to become an emergency paramedic is the highest non-medical qualification in the emergency services, which was introduced in 2014 and has replaced the previous qualification as a paramedic, as training.de explains.

During her final shift at SMUR, Cuvelier emotionally reflected on her most memorable assignments. A special moment was a traffic accident in December 2002 in which she saved the life of a seriously injured man named Sacha. Despite his ongoing health problems, he visited her years later to thank her personally. Another memorable mission was in 2014, when she treated a pregnant teenager who was bleeding heavily and managed to save an extremely premature child. “These are the moments you never forget,” reflects Cuvelier.

The challenges of emergency medicine

The challenges of an emergency physician are diverse. Not only mastering medical procedures, but also the ability to keep a cool head in emotionally stressful situations are essential. onisep.fr emphasizes that emergency physicians work in the context of acute illnesses, accidents and also psychological emergencies. This wide range of application areas makes it extremely important to always be well prepared.

As training to become an emergency paramedic shows, the path to this profession is demanding and requires both physical fitness and psychological resilience. With an intermediate level of education or completed vocational training, you can enter this sought-after field of training. Lasting three years, the training provides both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that are crucial in an emergency.

With the farewell to Dr. Bernadette Cuvelier, the Charleroi region is losing not only an experienced emergency doctor, but also a passionate trainer who influenced generations of professionals. Their commitment, their expertise and their human nature will resonate in the community for a long time.