New MHB president Hans-Uwe Simon

Neuruppin, 1 September 2021

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Uwe Simon (63) is the new MHB president. On 1 September 2021 Prof. Simon took over from Prof. Dr. Edmund. A. Neugebauer (71) who stood down after 5 successful years. Like his predecessor Prof. Simon will also assume the office of Academic Director. The MHB senate elected him at the suggestion of the nomination committee last December.

Prof. Simon used the past eight months for a close look at the MHB and the tasks ahead. His impression from numerous conversations with MHB staff and the president’s office is that he can count on a dedicated and professional team and their support with head, heart and hand in the upcoming next steps and challenges, for which he thanks them in advance.
He underlines the courage and pioneering spirit required to found and establish the MHB: “I am full of admiration and will do everything in my power to ensure ongoing positive developments for the MHB. Our focus must remain on practice-oriented, science-based, innovative and excellent education in medicine and psychology. Apart from that, we intend to consistently pursue and advance the chosen path in research for the benefit of society.” Another considerable challenge, so Simon, is the imminent accreditation by the Federal Government’s Science Council: “This will require our full attention and concentration over the coming months, and results of the evaluation will have a significant effect on the MHB and its academic and financial future.”

Gabriele Wolter, managing director of the university clinic Brandenburg an der Havel, headed the nomination committee which was appointed in the summer of 2020 and included associates, clinicians, MHB professors and students. She is highly pleased with the new president’s comprehensive experience in research, education and university management. She points to Prof. Simon’s academic background in executive positions, his career in experimental and clinical research and the interdisciplinary research structures and scientific networks he built up within Switzerland and at international level. He is the president of the renowned Novartis Foundation, chairs the scientific board of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Leipzig), and is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and other renowned research associations.

Hans-Uwe Simon was born in Eisenach in 1958. Medical studies in Jena were followed by a medical doctorate in 1985. Further steps in his professional career took him to the University of Toronto/Canada (1990 – 1992), the University of Zurich/Switzerland (1992 – 2000) and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1996 – 2001). From 2000 he was active at the University of Berne: as a professor of pharmacology and as Director of the Institute of Pharmacology, as research dean (2012-2016) and subsequently dean of the Medical School (2016-2020).