Simone graduated from Nursing school at School voor Gezondheidszorg Rotterdam. After she started working as a nurse at the Burn centre Rotterdam She started the study Social Pedagogic Worker and obtained her Bachelor degree. Started working at the Center for Pain Medicine and spasticity in Rotterdam. In 2008 she obtained her Master degree in Advanced Nursing Practice. Simone was given the opportunity to start as PhD-student at the Center for Pain Medicine, Erasmus mc, with Prof dr. F.J.P.M Huygen as her promotor and Dr. S.G.P Frankema as her copromotor. She combined her PhD research with her work as a nurse practitioner at the Ambulant Care Clinic Care4homecare.