PROF. DR. CHRISTOPH MICHALSKI, MD

The Department of General Surgery at Heidelberg University Hospital has a long history dating back to its foundation in 1818 and has since become one of the most important, largest and prestigious surgical departments on a globally scale. Our reputation as a major academic referral center demonstrates our commitment to excellence in surgical care and innovation. Our team of general surgeons undergo rigorous training to provide exceptional performance in a variety of areas, including: Bariatric Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Gastrointestinal Surgery and Hernia Surgery.

In essence, the Department of General Surgery at Heidelberg University offers an unrivalled range of specialised care and innovation. Our relentless commitment to advancing medical knowledge and perfecting surgical techniques ensures that our patients receive the best possible medical and nursing care. This in turn leads to better outcomes and a higher quality of life for those who entrust themselves to us. 
In addition to our main campus in Heidelberg, we extend our reach and expertise through our network of satellite hospitals: Salem Hospital, GRN Clinic Sinsheim, GRN Clinic Eberbach and KKH-Heppenheim. These satellite hospitals are an integral part of our drive to expand world-class surgical care to communities beyond our main campus in Heidelberg, Neuenheimer Feld.

Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the operating theatre. Treatment protocols are, among other things, the result of years of dedicated research and hands-on experience. Through innovation, continuous evaluation of new methods and therapies, we unwaveringly pursue our goal of providing the most advanced therapies for our patients. Our services include both inpatient and outpatient care, with a focus on utilising the latest techniques of minimally invasive and open surgery to ensure the highest standard of patient care at all times.

The Department of Surgical Oncology is dedicated to providing comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer care. Our highly skilled surgeons specialise in a wide range of cancers and work closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and other healthcare professionals to provide the highest quality of treatment and support to our patients.

When it comes to surgical oncology, we strive to push the boundaries of what is possible. Our specialists are well equipped to treat the most difficult cases with precision and empathy, applying the latest advances in cancer research.
At the heart of our department is a constant commitment to the well-being of our patients. We understand that every patient is unique, and we customise our treatment plans to meet your specific needs. Your comfort and confidence in medical care are our top priorities. Our department is also widely recognised for being at the forefront of recurrence surgery, as well as providing exceptional care for patients facing the complexities of cancer.

Our surgical team specialises not only in oncological procedures on the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and liver, but also in the surgical treatment of endocrine tumours, melanomas, sarcomas and neuroendocrine tumours.

The European Pancreas Centre (EPC) in Heidelberg is a first-class facility. We specialise in the treatment of pancreatic diseases, in particular pancreatic cancer.
As part of an interdisciplinary team of highly qualified experts, we expand our expertise every day for over 2,000 patients a year, for whom we successfully perform more than 700 pancreatic operations every year. This shows our foundation of experience in numbers.

Specialised treatments cover the spectrum of benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas, including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pancreatic NETs or PNETs), pancreatic cystic tumours, IPMN (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm), as well as advanced procedures such as minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery.

At the European Pancreas Centre Heidelberg, you will find a large team of specialists under one roof, which results in numerous advantages for our patients, such as shorter waiting times and short distances from examination to examination, rapid diagnosis and certainty as well as excellent treatment results. Patients benefit from the collective expertise of our multidisciplinary teams; each case is thoroughly reviewed and discussed among specialists - from diagnosis and surgical intervention to intensive care, conservative treatment, nutritional counselling, life coaching and social support.

The Department of Liver Surgery at our clinic is a recognised center of excellence dedicated exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases.

Over the years, this department has grown through dedication and the cultivation of expertise by carefully assembling a team of exceptional experts covering the full spectrum of experienced professionals, including training promising young professionals. 
We perform more than 350 liver surgeries each year, treating both benign and malignant conditions with unwavering precision and compassionate care.

This center is the pinnacle of diagnostic procedures and treatment approaches; it serves as a showcase for our expertise in highly complicated liver surgeries such as two-stage liver resection and ALPPS (Associating Liver Partition and Portal vein ligation for Staged hepatectomy). We also proudly offer state-of-the-art robotic liver resections, utilising the latest technology to support the unwavering precision and effectiveness of our procedures.

Our commitment is steadfast, our expertise unrivalled, and our dedication to the advancement of liver surgery is at the heart of everything we do.

Organ transplantation is a particular focus of our clinic; a life-changing field and one in which we relentlessly strive for excellence. Since the start of the new millennium in 2000, our team has performed over 4,000 successful liver, kidney and combined pancreas and kidney transplants, as well as paediatric transplants.

Our commitment to organ transplantation goes beyond the confines of operating theatres. It is a collaborative effort made possible by the unwavering support of our hospital and the exceptional teamwork of all the medical experts in our department, including the staff of the Department of Paediatrics, the Centre for Kidney Disease and the Department of Hepatology.

Driven by a shared vision to extend and improve lives, we have established a specialised center for transplantation. Our renowned center of excellence is designed to facilitate a significant number of transplants, including complicated procedures such as living donor kidney and liver transplants. In collaboration with the Children's Centre, we specialise in life-saving transplant operations and comprehensive care for children with organ failure or complex diseases. Our team of highly skilled paediatric transplant surgeons, dedicated nurses and multidisciplinary professionals provide the highest standard of medical and nursing care for our young patients.

An organ transplant is more than just a medical procedure; it is a lifeline, a second chance and a testament to the limitless possibilities of modern medicine. We are very proud of our role as enablers of these extraordinary transformations; we are committed to utilising the latest developments in transplant science and surgical techniques.

Our patients can be confident that they are receiving the most innovative and comprehensive medical care available. Every transplant at our clinic is guided by a patient-centered philosophy. We make it our mission to understand the emotional and physical challenges our patients and their families face; and we are here not only to provide outstanding medical care, but also devoted support and compassion. As we embark on a remarkable journey with each patient, we remain humble and filled with joy for the lives we touch and the hope we inspire. Our daily commitment to organ transplantation is not just a profession, it is our passion, our calling and our will-determination to make a difference, but also the aspiration to make a profound difference in the world.