Minister Laumann as a guest: Impulses for the healthcare of the future
For ten years, Dr. Gisela Labenz and Prof. Dr. Joachim Labenz have been working with their foundation to attract young medical talent to the Siegen-Wittgenstein region. The tenth anniversary of the "Gisela and Joachim Labenz Foundation" has now been celebrated with a festive event in the lecture hall center of the University of Siegen. The event brought together representatives from science, politics, medicine and Siegen's urban society - united by a common goal: to secure medical care in the region in the long term.
The foundation supports medical students with a clear regional connection and thus specifically strengthens the next generation of doctors in the Siegerland region. So far, 21 scholarship holders have been supported - they form the heart of the foundation.
Minister Laumann visits Siegen
Karl-Josef Laumann, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, praised the foundation as a "great idea" to keep young medical talent in the region and emphasized the central importance of comprehensive, high-quality care throughout NRW. "I want a healthcare system that is there for the people - and not the people for the system," Laumann summed up. Digitalization and AI-supported control - for example in access to outpatient clinics - are also key building blocks for a sustainable system.
Science as a driving force: the ZIGS at the University of Siegen
Rector Prof. Dr. Stefanie Reese showed how the University of Siegen is actively addressing these challenges in her presentation on the founding of the new Center for Interdisciplinary Health Research (ZIGS). "With the ZIGS, we are pooling expertise from all Schools in order to develop innovative solutions for healthcare in cooperation with partners in the region. In this way, we want to make a contribution to enabling high-quality, accessible and sustainable healthcare for all people," said Rector Prof. Reese.
Interdisciplinary research projects, biomedical and technological developments, digital opportunities in the field of public health and the academization of the nursing professions are at the heart of the new center, which was largely initiated by founding coordinator Prof. Dr. Hans Merzendorfer. The university offers an attractive range of courses in the field of health sciences with courses such as the Bachelor's degree in Digital Biomedical and Health Sciences and two Masters (Digital Public Health and Biomedical Technology). There are also certificates for further training in close cooperation with local clinics. The Digital Model Region Health Dreiländereck (DGMD) under the leadership of Dr. Olaf Gaus is also integrated into the ZIGS.
Science made understandable: James Bond in the sights of physics
Physics professor Dr. Metin Tolan (TU Dortmund University) generated enthusiasm at the anniversary celebration with his lecture "James Bond in the sights of physics". Using film scenes, he explained the laws of physics - from daring chases to magnetic clocks and optical effects. Even the question of why a martini is "shaken and not stirred" was given a scientific explanation - and rounded off the festive event wonderfully.
