Technical University of Munich’s Klinikum Created
The university hospital TUM Klinikum rechts der Isar (MRI) and the German Heart Centre Munich (DHM) will unite to form the new “University Hospital of the Technical University of Munich (TUM)” (‘TUM Klinikum’). The Bavarian Council of Ministers announced the decision on Tuesday. Nevertheless, the two institutions are to remain operatively independent. Their respective brand names are also to be retained.
In addition to generating new funding opportunities, the union of the two hospitals is also intended to generate synergy effects in the field of cardiac medicine. The two institutions are now formulating the details of their future collaboration.
Gaining Even More International Appeal
Bavaria’s Science Minister Markus Blume says: “With the merger, we will in future offer a unique range of services in the field of cardiology, develop a joint medical strategy and strengthen the excellence of both institutions. Munich thus underpins its claim to be Germany’s No. 1 medical center. The interests of our employees are our top priority: the merger will not result in any changes in personnel or in a worse position for staff, but rather will open up new opportunities and perspectives. Let us move forward courageously and lead the cooperation between Herzzentrum and Rechts der Isar, which has been successful for almost 30 years, into a new era!”
“We are consolidating our university hospital TUM Klinikum rechts der Isar and the German Heart Centre Munich under the new ‘TUM Klinikum’ umbrella brand,” says TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann. “Without losing sight of their respective existing profiles, we intend this strategic step to leverage even more efficient synergies in medical research and health care provision and to generate new excellence potentials in the field of cardio-vascular disease. TUM’s highly distinguished name will help ‘TUM Klinikum’ gain an even stronger and more international reputation.”
Partnership on Equal Terms
Dr. Martin Siess, Medical Director of the MRI, says: “The objective is a partnership on equal terms in which both parties continue to develop together, while at the same time retaining their own respective profiles. The ‘TUM Klinikum’ is to unite both entities under a single umbrella brand. It is important to us to strengthen the collaboration between these two successful hospitals whose service ranges complement one another excellently. We want to work together to master the health-policy challenges of today and tomorrow in close partnership.”
Prof. Heribert Schunkert, Medical Director of the DHM, says: “The scientific work and clinical excellence of the DHM have already received the highest international attention over the last four decades and have contributed significantly to the great successes of cardiac medicine. Now the step into the ‘TUM Klinikum’ is important to us because it gives us the status of a university hospital and access to appropriate funding instruments for research and teaching. In this way, we will continue to secure for the DHM a top position in cardiovascular research, but also – through the association with an outstanding university hospital – a top position in the care of our patients.””
The Dean of the TUM Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Stephanie E. Combs, says: “The scientific activities in the field of cardiac medicine are internationally visible in the Faculty of Medicine and are already jointly united in the Center for Cardiovascular Research. The merger will create a significant hub effect for research as well as teaching in this area. For the School of Medicine and Health, which is currently being established, the TUM Klinikum is an ideal platform to further strengthen translational research at an international level.”