I have been doing clinical research on aortic remodeling after aortic dissection in Essen in close cooperation with the Department of Cardiology and Radiology. In addition to the investigation of mechanical aortic properties, automation procedures for the segmentation of aortas from CT data sets were developed in a cooperative project with the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Duisburg-Essen. In cooperation with the company Jotec I was participated in the development of a novel aortic arch prosthesis. We were able to develop this via a large animal model (pig) up to its use in humans. During my surgical fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, I continued my research on aortic remodeling after aortic dissection. In Mainz, I am doing research on outcome and therapeutic concepts for aortic dissection, continued to work on aortic remodeling, and collaborate with the Department of Radiology on 4D MRI. I am involved in multicenter projects such as the GERAADA registry, the EACTS working group on connective tissue diseases, and a working group on TAVI endocarditis. As one of 12 European centers, I am head of the NEOS study in Mainz.

Positions held 

Since 02/2021    
Deputy Director of the Cardiac and Vascular Surgery Department, University Hospital of Cardiovascular Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz (Director: Prof. Dr. H. Treede)

04/2020 - 01/2021    
Acting Medical Director of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery with authorization for further training in cardiac surgery (48 months), University Hospital of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Universitätsmedizin Mainz

07/2019 - 03/2020    
Senior Surgeons Referee and Director of Aortic Surgery department, University Hospital of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz (Director: Prof. Dr. C.-F. Vahl)

07/2017 - 06/2019    
Senior Surgeon and Director of Aortic Surgery department, University Hospital of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mainz (Director: Prof. Dr. C.-F. Vahl)

01/2017 - 06/2017    
Aortic Surgery Fellow, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, (Director: J. E. Bavaria, M.D.)

03/2016 - 12/2016    
Permanent Consultant position, Thorax and Cardiovascular Surgery, West German Heart Center, Universitätsklinikum Essen (Director: Prof. Dr. H. G. Jakob)

03/2016    
Residency certificate in Cardiac Surgery

12/2009 - 03/2016    
Residency Program, Thorax and Cardiovascular Surgery, West German Heart Center, Universitätsklinikum Essen (Director: Prof. Dr. H. G. Jakob)

11/2009    
Full license for medicine practice

Education

2021    
Habilitation and granting of the “Venia Legendi” for the subject of cardiac surgery, “Paths towards a rational individualized therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute and chronic aortic dissections”, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

2012    
Promotion with “summa cum laude”, “On the conformation of fibrinogen during adsorption on titanium surfaces”, Experimental research work Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Hospital Essen, Doctoral supervisor: Prof. Dr. med. H. Jennissen

2003 - 2009    
University of Medicine, Universität Duisburg-Essen