New leadership: The DGOU Presidents address the challenges of Orthopaedics and Trauma

Prof. Dr. Dieter C. Wirtz and Prof. Dr. Michael J. Raschke (f.l.) © T. Tanzyna / Intercongress

In October 2019, the General Assembly of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma elected Wirtz and Raschke to the leadership of the professional society for the term of office from 1 January to 31 December 2020. In 2020, the pair will also take over the presidency of their respective professional societies: Wirtz is president of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC); and Raschke is president of the German Trauma Society (DGU).

Dieter C. Wirtz (53) studied medicine from 1986 to 1992 and received a doctorate in 1993 from the Medical Faculty of the RWTH Aachen. In 2001, Wirtz pursued his habilitation at the same faculty in the field of Orthopaedics. In 2006, he was appointed Chair of Trauma/Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Bonn, in his capacity of professor. In the same year, he became director of the Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic; from 2008, he was appointed executive director of the Surgical Centre of the University of Bonn. Since 2016, Wirtz has been a presidium member at the AE – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoprothetik [German Endoprosthetics Society] and a national delegate of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma (DGOU) in the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT). Over the course of his career, Wirtz has received numerous awards, prizes and scholarships in the medical field, and has held high-level positions in different scientific associations.

Michael J. Raschke (60) studied medicine at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz from 1979 to 1985. He received his doctorate in 1987 from the Medical University of Luebeck. In 1997, he completed his habilitation in the specialist field of surgery. From 1999 to 2003, he worked as part of the permanent delegation of the hospital's management in his capacity of assistant medical director until his appointment as honorary professor at the Medical Faculty of the Humboldt University, Berlin (Charité Campus, Virchow Hospital). Since 2003, Raschke is the director of the Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery at the Westphalian Wilhelm University in Muenster. From 2003 to 2010, he was head of the "Alterstraumatology" [Geriatric Traumatology] working group of the German Trauma Society. In 2012, he became a member of the board of the DKG - Deutsche Kniegesellschaft e.V. [German Knee Society]. From 2013 to 2018, he was President of AOTrauma Germany. Raschke is a member of many scientific associations, as well as author and editor for important medical publications.

Congress President of the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery
As presidents of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma and The German Trauma Society, Prof. Dr. Wirtz and Prof. Dr. Raschke will also act as congress presidents for this year’s edition of the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma 2020 (DKOU), alongside the congress president of the Berufsverband für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie (BVOU) [Professional Association for Orthopaedics and Trauma], Dr. Burkhard Lembeck. With more than 10.000 visitors, the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery is Europe's largest congress in its field. It will take place in Berlin from 20 to 23 October 2020. One focus this year will be on sustainability and ecology in hospitals, because packaging materials and disposable instruments lead to huge amounts of waste every day, and therefore create a great burden for the "ecological footprint" of hospitals. Another key topic will be how to deal with complications, which must be reflected in good complication management. The “Best Ager Plus” patient group will also be addressed, as well as the new challenges facing Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery arising from it.

The motto of the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery 2020 is "Diversity United". It states that the formerly independent specialist fields of orthopaedics and trauma have now become fully united, while preserving the diversity of the multi-faceted field. The congress motto is a leitmotif for orthopaedic and trauma surgeons to treat their patients, from infants to the elderly, applying a full range of treatments from conservative therapy to 3D-supported surgery. "We are working in an economically determined environment, which is characterised by increasing regulation and a bottleneck in structural investment. At the same time, an ageing population has led to a significant increase in the legitimate desire of patients for more quality of life and greater quality of care. Nowadays, individualised treatment methods with a high degree of specialisation are what society is demanding," says Wirtz, stressing the congress motto. This year, the congress presidents invited India to act as their host country: "Our colourful host country, India, so rich in diversity, has a long history of traditional medical methods. This will allow us to transport our subject matter and messages to our colleagues in India. On the other hand, we will benefit from their enormous wealth of experience with a large number of injuries and associated after-effects," says Raschke.

The work of the two new presidents of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma, Prof. Dr. Wirtz and Prof. Dr. Raschke is supported by the executive board and the board as well as 20 other committees.