1986-1989  Doctorate at the Institute for Immunology of the University of Munich/ Germany (Director: G. Riethmüller, M. D.). Title: "Identification and Characterization of an up to now unknown monocyte subpopulation“

1989-1992  Resident, Surgical Department, „Klinik Innenstadt”, University of Munich / Germany (Traumatology, Intensive Care) and the Surgical Department, „Zentralkrankenhaus München-Gauting”, Gauting / Germany (Thoracic Surgery)

1993-1994  Resident, Surgical Department of the University Hospital of Eppendorf (UKE), University of Hamburg / Germany (Transplantation Surgery, Visceral Surgery)

1995-1997  Resident, Surgical Department of the „Klinik Innenstadt“, University of Munich / Germany (Vascular Surgery) and the Surgical Department, „Zentralkrankenhaus München-Gauting”,Gauting/ Germany (Thoracic Surgery)

1995   Board Certification General Surgery; Staff Surgeon

1997   Habilitation, Assistant Professor., Ludwigs-Maximilian University of Munich / Germany
Board Cerification General Thoracic Surgery

1997/1998 Further training at Centers of Thoracic Surgery in the United States: Memorial-Sloan-Kettering-Cancer Center: Oncologic Surgery, New York (Robert Ginsberg, M. D.) and Massachusetts General Hospital: Oncologic Surgery, Tracheal Surgery, Boston (Douglas Mathisen, M. D., Hermes Grillo, M. D.)

1999 Board Cerification Vascular Surgery

2001 Fellow of the European Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons (FETCS)

2003  Extracurricular Professor of the  University of Munich / Germany

2004 - present
Professor of General Thoracic Surgery at the Albert-Ludwig University,Freiburg;
Head, Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Freiburg / Germany

 Since 2008  Chairman of the Thoracic Oncology Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Freiburg

2002 -2004 German Regent ESTS

2004-2008 Concil Member ESTS

2006 - 2012 Concil Member German Society fo Thoracic Surgeons (DGT)

2012 - 2014 President DGT

2011 - 2013 Concil Member German Society of Surgeons (DGCH)