University of Freiburg: Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon for Stefan Pollak

A high distinction for professional merits as well as volunteering: In December 2020, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier awarded Prof. Dr. Stefan Pollak, former Director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Vice Rector for Research and Medical Affairs at the University of Freiburg, the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. On May 25, 2021, Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector at the University of Freiburg, presented Stefan Pollak with the Order of Merit and the certificate. The ceremony took place in a small circle, accompanied by Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Director of the University Medical Center Freiburg, due to the pandemic and at the request of Dr. Pollak himself.

“I consider it a special honor that I, as Rector of the University of Freiburg, have the opportunity to personally present the Cross of Merit and certificate to this highly esteemed colleague,” says Kerstin Krieglstein. “This award recognizes in particular his volunteer work in the intersection between medicine, ethics and law.” Stefan Pollak accepted the professorship of forensic medicine in Freiburg in 1989. Later, he headed the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University Medical Center until his retirement as Medical Director. Other positions include Chairman of the Ethics Commission at the University of Freiburg for ten years, a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Medical Ethics and Law, and a position as Vice Rector for Research and Medical Affairs. Since 2000, he has also served as a peer reviewer for the German Research Foundation. He shaped renowned medical societies such as the German Society for Forensic Medicine on a volunteer basis as president and board member. He supported the Center of Excellence for Child Protection in Medicine Baden-Württemberg and advocated high-quality training in medical-technical assistant professions. He was also admitted to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.