Education and Training 1981-1988 Studies of medicine, University Kiel (Germany) and Universities of Auckland/Dunedin, New Zealand 1988-1998 Military service (medical service) 1990 Scientific Doctorate, Christian Albrecht University Kiel; 1989–1993 Clinical training in the department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Christian Albrecht University Kiel 1993–1998 Continuation of clinical training in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University Hospital Lübeck 2003 Habilitation, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School Positions and Employment 1996–1999 Attending Surgeon in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University Hospital Lübeck 1999–2004 Attending Surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Director cardiothoracic branch of the University Hospital Ortstadtkrankenhaus Hannover 2004–2007 Associated Director Cardiothoracic Surgery, Westdeutsches Herzzentrum, University Hospital Essen Since 2007 Head of Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Würzburg

 Main interests Surgery of heart failure, Reconstructive valve surgery, Aortic surgery