Physicians
Specialist in internal medicine, cardiology, sports medicine and cardiovascular intervention.
Curriculum vitae
Following studies in medicine at the University of Freiburg, internships in Boston (USA), Marseille (France), and residencies in Munich (Germany), Prof. Ischinger relocated to Emory University in Atlanta with the support of a Fulbright Scholarship for specialized training in invasive cardiology (heart catheterization and angiography) and interventional cardiology (coronary angioplasty) with the pioneer in the field Prof. Dr. Andreas Grüntzig, with whom he collaborated clinically and scientifically from 1981 to 1983. From there, Prof. Ischinger accepted a position as director of Interventional Cardiology at the St. Louis University School of Medicine. In 1984 he returned to the Heart Center Bogenhausen in Munich. He earned board certification in internal medicine and cardiology and a Ph. D. degree in 1986. In 1990 Prof. Ischinger was appointed university professor at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Until 2010 and prior to founding KIZ – Kardiologie im Zentrum – Prof. Ischinger continued to hold the position as senior associate at Bogenhausen Heart Center, responsible for interventional cardiovascular techniques and innovative therapeutic concepts.
Prof. Ischinger is married and father of two adult daughters.
Professional experience
Prof. Ischinger is considered a co-pioneer in the development of interventional cardiology (minimally invasive heart catheter interventions) and one of the most experienced interventional cardiologists in the world. He contributed significantly to the introduction of coronary angioplasty into clinical routine in the early 1980s in the United States. Since then, Prof. Ischinger has gathered extraordinary practical experience with all available methods. He has personally completed over 10,000 cardiovascular interventions and accompanied many more in a responsible role. Innovative procedures in particular are part of his repertoire:
- Balloon angioplasty for vascular stenoses (percutaneous angioplasty (PTA)) and percutaneous coronary angioplasty PTCA
- Stent implantation (e.g. coronary stent, carotid stent, aortic stent)
- Thrombectomy
- Implantation of closure devices (umbrella closure) for septal defects, e.g. ASD closures (for atrium septum defects) or PFO closures (for open foramen ovale)
- Valvuloplasty (balloon angioplasty for stenotic heart valves)
- Minimally invasive implantation of biological heart valves (percutaneous aortic valve replacement)
The following disorders are treated by minimal invasive catheter techniques:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD), imminent and acute myocardial infarction
- Peripheral arterial occlusion (pAVK), e.g. arteries of the upper ond lower extremities and iliac arteries
- Stenosis of the carotid artery (carotid stenosis), stenosis of other vessels that supply blood to the brain, imminent stroke
- Stenosis of kidney arteries (renal artery stenosis)
- Disease of the aorta, e.g. aortic aneurysma, aortic dissection (thoracis and abdominal aorta)
Prof. Ischinger is considered expert in all interventional and surgical therapies available today for treating cardiovascular disorders. His expertise is in demand around the world. His advice is sought as second opinion prior to cardiac or vascular operations or prior to minimally invasive treatments for selection of the optimal therapeutic option (differential therapy) in complex cardiovascular disorders. In addition, his personal network is often used to identify qualified specialists and treatment centers both in Germany and internationally.
Experience (text only available in german)
Scientific research
Prof. Ischinger has continuously supported his clinical work with clinical research. Since 1982, numerous publications have featured his work in the areas of coronary heart disease, interventional cardiology, innovative catheter techniques, anti-thrombotic drug therapies, follow-up care after interventions, as well as prevention (primary prevention and secondary prevention).
Prof. Ischinger is author and publisher of text books, including the first reference book on coronary angioplasty (balloon dilation, PTCA) in 1986. In addition, he is author of numerous patient information and educational booklets (including an instructional video) on catheter interventions for the heart and the vascular system (e.g., Thieme Compliance Verlag). Prof. Ischinger is an editorial and review board member for national and international professional journals, committee member of scientific and professional societies in Germany and the United States, member of expert panels, scientific advisory board member for the Deutsche Herzstiftung, and faculty member of international conferences, including TCT in the United States, MEET in France, and GW-ICC in China among others.
He is a contributor to all important national and international professional conferences, including the annual conventions of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie, European Heart Society, American Heart Association, Asian professional associations, and TCT (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics).
As one of the foremost experts in interventional cardiology, Prof. Ischinger has conducted live teaching seminars in Germany (Heart Center Bogenhausen) and Asia (Beijing) with broadcast from the heart catheterization laboratory. Today, cardiologists from around the world frequently attend his interventions to learn from his experience.
Books and publications
Original and editorial work
Presentations
Additional activities
Prof. Ischinger a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie, fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC), and fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC). He is also certified in Sports Medicine.
As a state-certified ski instructor and member of the German Professional Ski Instructor Association (DSLV), Prof. Ischinger was also active in sports medicine earlier in his career in cardiology.
Dr. med. Bo S. Friedrichsen
Specialist in internal medicine and cardiology
Curriculum vitae
Studies in medicine from 1988 to 1995 at Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus. Studies abroad in Switzerland (Universitätsspital Zürich), United Kingdom (Torquay Hospital, South Devon), and Israel (Benai Zion Medical Center, Haifa).
Doctorate 1995 in the dermatology (Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus).
Training in internal medicine at Kreiskrankenhaus Bad Aibling (AiP) and at Klinikum Landsberg am Lech. He has been a board certified specialist in internal medicine since 2002.
Studies in health economics at the European Business School (ebs) in Oestrich-Winkel from 2003 to 2004. One-year, course-related rotation (Praktikum) in the central corporate divisions of quality management and medicine controlling at Sana-Kliniken GmbH & Co. KGaA, Munich.
From 2004 to 2009 training in cardiology at the Klinik für Kardiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin at the Heart Center Bogenhausen of Städtisches Klinikum München GmbH. In 2009 he received board certification in cardiology.
In private practice in Munich since 2009, as a specialist in internal medicine and non-invasive cardiology.
Dr. Friedrichsen is married.
Experience
Dr. Friedrichsen received many years of broad internal medicine training at primary and secondary care hospitals. His main interest was in the area of cardiology. Over a period of five years at Heart Center Bogenhausen, he acquired exceptional experience with all established non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, with special expertise in echocardiographic diagnostic techniques in cardiology.
Experience (text only available in german)
Additional activities
As DRG and QM manager at the Klinik für Kardiologie at Heart Center Bogenhausen, intense involvement with issues of medical controlling, quality management (KTQ certification), and health policy.
Anthroposophically oriented medicine
Memberships: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie, Herz-und Kreislaufforschung (DGK), European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Berufsverband der Fachärzte für Kardiologie in freier Praxis (BFK), European Business School (ebs) alumni organization.
Dr. med. Gregor C. Ley
Specialist in internal medicine, cardiology and emergency medicine
Curriculum vitae
Dr. Ley was born in 1972 in Hamburg. Following his education near Wiesbaden, he completed studies in medicine at the University of Mainz and University of Erlangen-Nürnberg as well as at the University of California-Davis (USA), earning a doctorate in physiology. In 1998, he completed his internal medicine studies at the Klinik Bogenhausen in Munich. Dr. Ley earned accreditation as a specialist in internal medicine (board certification) in 2004. He completed training in cardiology by 2007 at the Heart Center Bogenhausen and earned board certification in cardiology and emergency medicine in 2007. Dr. Ley, an associate and founding member of the newly established group practice – KIZ Kardiologie im Zentrum – since October 2009, is now in private practice at the “Zentrum für Diabetologie, Herz- und Gefäßmedizin” in the heart of Munich. He has a vast experience in non-invasive diagnostics in cardiovascular medicine including heart rhythm disorders. Dr. Ley is widowed with one son.
Professional experience
During his training in internal medicine, Dr. Ley acquired broad experience in the field by working in the divisions of cardiology, pneumology and gastroenterology, his focus always remaining on cardiology. His activity in the interdisciplinary internal medicine-neurological intensive care units as well as in the interdisciplinary emergency unit triggered his interest in emergency medicine. Since 2004 he has regularly worked as an emergency physician for the Munich Fire Department. He has also completed his training as an emergency rescuer.
Following completion of his specialization in internal medicine, Dr. Ley concentrated on cardiology. Beginning in 2005, he worked exclusively in the field of cardiology at Heart Center Bogenhausen. His work ranged from all non-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to minimally invasive procedures in the heart catheterization laboratory. Dr. Ley inspired innovative methods in the field of echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), today this is his area of specialization. He introduced three-dimensional echocardiography into the routine of care at Heart Center Bogenhausen.
Experience (text only available in german)
Additional activities
Since the death of his wife, Dr. Ley has supported the Nicolaidis-Stiftung – an organization for assisting young widowed persons – with great commitment. He has been significantly involved in building this field of care for men. Dr. Ley is a member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and the Berufsverband der Fachärzte für Kardiologie in freier Praxis (BFK).
Dr. med. Fabian Müller-Hartmann
Specialist in internal medicine and cardiology
Curriculum vitae
Dr. Müller-Hartmann was raised in Würzburg. In 1994 he began his medical studies at Ludwig-Maximilians Universität in Munich, followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University Hospital Großhadern in Munich with a focus on pneumology, nephrology and cardiology. During that time, Dr. Müller-Hartmann was also scientifically active at the renowned Helmholtz Institute among other places. His research activities on stem cell therapy and cardiovascular genetics resulted in a series of publications in peer review journals and in his doctorate on “Endothelial activation following hypoxia and reoxygenation – strategies of inhibition in vitro” in 2007.
In 2006 Dr. Müller-Hartmann relocated to the Heart Center Bogenhausen in Munich, where he earned board certification for internal medicine (in 2009) and cardiology (in 2012).
At the Heart Center Bogenhausen, Dr. Müller-Hartmann focussed on innovative cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, including invasive cardiology and the evaluation of patients prior to major cardiosurgical interventions. He developed profound clinical expertise in the individual selection and use of the optimal cardiac imaging modalities including 3D echocardiography, computer tomography (cardiac CT) and magnetic resonance tomography (cardiac MRT).
Since early 2012, Dr. Müller-Hartmann has been responsible for the entire section of non invasive cardiology at the Heart Center with special focus on cardiac imaging by cardiac CT and MRT. In summer 2012 he joined KIZ – Kardiologie im Zentrum. Dr. Müller-Hartmann is married and lives in Munich with his wife, who is a teacher, and their two sons.
Professional experience
Dr. Müller-Hartmann acquired broad experience in internal medicine, pneumology, nephrology, angiology and endocrinology, before concentrating on the field of cardiology.
His expertise in cardiology encompasses the following areas:
- overall cardiovascular diagnostics, including specialized cardiopulmonary performance diagnostics
- specialized non-invasive diagnostics in patients with coronary or valvular heart disease
- patient evaluation and management prior to cardiac surgery or minimally invasive catheter interventions as well as postoperative care and guidance
- interdisciplinary consulting with the heart team (cardiac surgeon, cardiologist, internist) for optimal and patient oriented selection of treatment
- differential treatment options – medical and minimal invasive – for cardiac arrhythmias -Selective application of innovative noninvasive imaging techniques (Cardiac CT, MRT) as an alternative to coronary angiography (cardiac catheterization)
Prof. Dr. med. Florian von Knobelsdorff
Specialist in internal medicine, cardiology and cardiovascular imaging
Curriculum vitae
Prof. von Knobelsdorff studied medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich including internships in Boston (Harvard Medical School) and Parma (Italy). After starting his clinical education in cardiac surgery in Munich, he completed his cardiology training in Munich and Berlin. At Charité University Medicine Berlin he worked intensively both clinically and scientifically (clinician scientist). He was appointed as assistant professor and headed the outpatient center for cardiology at Charité. Then, he worked as deputy head of the department of cardiology at the clinic Agatharied, academic teaching hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, and was appointed as associate professor there. Since 2020, Professor von Knobelsdorff is part of the expert center KIZ in Munich.
Professional experience
Prof. von Knobelsdorff has learnt the fundaments of cardiac surgery and surgical intensive care medicine, followed by a broad education in internal medicine with focus in intensive- and emergency medicine. At Charité University Medicine Berlin, he specialized in cardiology and cardiovascular imaging, especially cardiac MRI. He became known as expert in this evolving field both clinically and scientifically, both nationally and internationally. He taught the method to physicians from all over the world, published articles and book chapters and gave multiple talks. In addition, he gained a lot of experience in echocardiography and cardiac CT. As imaging expert he was appointed to the editorial board of the journal „Die Kardiologie“ and was member of the nucleus of the MRI section of the German Society for Cardiology for many years. In addition, Prof. von Knobelsdorff is accredited as interventional cardiologist with focus on invasive coronary imaging and therapy. He therefore combines unique and profound knowledge both as non-invasive and invasive cardiologist. By working clinically in leading positions at universitary expert centers, Professor von Knobelsdorff gained extensive knowledge and experience in heart failure, heart valve diseases, cardiomyopathies, inflammatory heart disease and arterial hypertension.
Certificates and Memberships
Professor von Knobelsdorff is board-certified for internal medicine, cardiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, heart failure and arterial hypertension. He is active member of the German and European Society of Cardiology. Professor von Knobelsdorff is part of the faculty of medicine at the Luwdig-Maximilians-University Munich.
Publications by Prof. von Knobelsdorff
Dr. med. Alessandra Boscheri
Board certified specialist in internal medicine, cardiology, sports medicine
Curriculum vitae
CV will follow
Dr. med. Anette Meidert
Specialist in pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, neonatology, emergency medicine, and diving medicine
Dr. Anette Meidert grew up in Munich. She completed her medical studies at LMU Munich, which were supplemented by studies abroad, including in the United States (Stanford and Minneapolis). She completed her pediatric studies at the Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital and at the Schwabinger Kinderklinik in Munich. While at the children’s hospital, she was already conducting scientific research on the effects of hormones on the heart. Dr. Meidert was trained in pediatric cardiology at the Deutsches Herzzentrum in Munich. Board certified in pediatrics, she was subsequently responsible for pediatric cardiology at the Kinderklinik Starnberg. She spent two years at the Children’s Clinic at the university in Sydney, primarily in the units for premature and newborn intensive care. There she was also responsible for the initial cardiological diagnosis. Upon returning to Germany, she expanded pediatric cardiology at Kinderklinik Garmisch-Partenkirchen as senior physician. Dr. Meidert is a board certified pediatrician and a pediatric cardiologist as well as a neonatologist (newborn medicine). Her work has included newborn and pediatric emergency services both in Munich and Garmisch. In 2009, she earned an additional accreditation in emergency medicine.
Dr. Meidert is a passionate scuba diver and has completed additional training in diving medicine and earned board certification in diving medicine. Particularly dear to her in this context are children who go “under water.” Privately, she spends as much time as possible outdoors with her husband enjoying sports activities (jogging, horse riding, kayaking) and playing the piano when indoors.
Prof. Dr. med. Klaus Wenke
specialist in cardiac surgery
Curriculum vitae: Text only available in german