1973 -        Medical studies at the Universities of Hanover, Capetown, Freiburg
1979

1979          Medical examination and license to practice medicine - Faculty of Medicine, 
                   Hanover

1979          Masters degree "magna cum laude"

1982          American examination (ECFMG)

1980          Training in general surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Hanover 
                    Department of Heart, Thorax and Vascular Surgery (Prof. Dr. H. G. Borst), 
                    Department of Emergency Surgery (Prof. Dr. H. Tscherne) and 
                    Department of Abdomen and Transplant Surgery (Prof. Dr. R. Pichlmayr)

1986          Board certification in surgery (State Medical Chamber of Lower Saxony)

1986          Consultant at the German Heart Center, Berlin, Prof. Dr. R. Hetzer

1988          Board certification in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 
                   (State Medical Chamber of Berlin)

1991          Board certification in cardiac surgery (State Medical Chamber of Berlin)

1991          Board certification in vascular surgery (State Medical Chamber of Berlin)

1994          Postdoctoral qualification

1994          Surgeon-in-chief, 
                   Cardiac surgeon, vascular surgeon, thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
                   Mediclin Heart Institute Lahr/Baden  
                   Authorization to provide full training in cardiac surgery,  
                   Authorization to provide full training in cardiac surgery intensive care 

2009           Awarded title of Professor at the University of Witten Herdecke - Germany
                   (certificate: PDF 252 KB)