Interview with the Chairperson of the German Working Group on Heart Failure

Prof. Stefan Störk interviews Prof. Mathias Rauchhaus

Topics: Heart Failure (HF)

Date: 30 Jun 2009

Prof. Mathias Rauchhaus

Stefan: Dear Mathias, may I start to ask you why you were interested in becoming a doctor?
Mathias: I cannot remember why, I always wanted to become a doctor.
Stefan: Did you have any other influences which gave you the incentive to study medicine?
Mathias: My grandmother died early, this encouraged me to follow this professional direction. Otherwise, I am not aware that anything else had a substantial impact on choosing the medical profession.
Stefan: Where did you perform your medical studies? How long did you train after your medical studies?
Mathias: I started studying medicine at the Martin-Luther-University in Halle/Saale (Germany). After the political change in the former eastern part of Germany, I finished my studies in Switzerland. Before receiving my full medical licence I completed one and a half year of training at Halle University (so-called ”Arzt im Praktikum”). After graduation, from 1997 to 2000, I underwent a post-graduate training and PhD course at the Royal Brompton Hospital, Imperial College School of Medicine, London. There, I obtained a PhD in Clinical Cardiology in 2003. For the state approval for Internal Medicine I completed 7 years of training, and to become a cardiologist I did another 2 years of training. Time periods were interrupted by clinical research. Currently I am improving my invasive handling techniques.
Stefan: Why did you choose cardiology as your specialty?
Mathias: This was mainly triggered by my MD thesis focusing on the genetic background of cardiovascular disease and also, a little bit, by chance.
Stefan: If I understand you correctly, your main interest in the field of cardiology is Heart Failure - why is that?
Mathias: When I was in London working for my PhD, my interests were centred on heart failure since this was the underlying theme of my research. Later on, it became my sub-speciality due to years of clinical and scientific work and deep personal interest that had developed. The main area of my research and clinical work now lies in the pathophysiology of heart failure and the improvement of treatment and prognosis by novel therapeutic strategies.
Stefan: What is your present position in your country?
Mathias: Currently, I am Consultant Cardiology and Head of Non-Invasive Cardiology – including the Outpatient Clinic and Heart Failure Program at the University of Rostock. In April 2008, I was elected chair of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the German Cardiac Society.
Stefan: How long can you stay as a chairman according to your rules in your country?
Mathias: The position rotates after 2 years.
Stefan: Could you share some of your objectives for the period you will serve as a Chairperson.
Mathias: The working group will actively initiate and perform clinical studies and aims at national but also international networking to concentrate knowledge, efforts and resources. We would like to start a National Heart Failure Registry and we will intensify collaborations particularly with German speaking and other European countries. We will involve members of the working group to actively participate in our work and encourage them to take an active role.
Stefan: Finally, I would be interested to learn more about the structure of your Heart Failure organisation?
Mathias: Our working group has been developing quite well over the past years. We currently have more than 100 members. Last year we decided on the structure and the bodies of the working group (Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, EU-Representative, Nucleus) all of which are elected for 2 years. Members of the Board can participate in advising the Nucleus for another 6 years.
Stefan: Who provides financial support for your Heart Failure working group?
Mathias: Indirect support comes from the German Cardiac Society by using their established structure. We do not have direct financial support.
Stefan: How is your social life today? What are you doing in your free time?
Mathias: My social life is limited due to the amount of work everyday. I try spending every single minute with my family – there is not much time left for time-intensive hobbies. As much as possible, I try to keep up my fitness by jogging, swimming and cycling on a non-regular schedule.

Stefan: Thank you so much for your time and willingness to answer my questions.