For the first time in its almost 550-year history, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tübingen has elected a woman to its leadership. Professor Dr. Sara Y. Brucker, Medical Director of the University Women’s Hospital and Head of the Department of Women’s Health, will take over the office of Dean. The handover of office took place on Monday. She succeeds Professor Bernd Pichler, who had headed the faculty since 2020.

Brucker is internationally regarded as a pioneer of modern surgical gynaecology. She played a major role in shaping breast cancer medicine in Germany and was instrumental in the founding and certification of the country’s first interdisciplinary breast center in Tübingen. She gained special recognition for her pioneering work in uterine transplants: She was the first and so far only female doctor in Germany to enable women without a uterus to become mothers.

The University Women’s Hospital Tübingen was ranked as the best gynecological clinic in Europe and the fourth best in the world by Newsweek in 2024. Brucker received the Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2025.

As the new dean, Brucker wants to focus on interdisciplinary cooperation, the promotion of young talent and equal opportunities. In particular, she emphasizes the better compatibility of academic and medical careers, the expansion of the research location and the use of digitization and artificial intelligence in medicine.

The Rector of the University of Tübingen, Professor Dr. Karla Pollmann, praised Brucker as an outstanding scientist whose courage to break new ground is exemplary for the university. Professor Jens Maschmann, Chief Medical Director of the University Hospital, emphasized her proven leadership skills. As Dean, Brucker is also a member of the Board of Directors of the University Hospital.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.