Professor Michael Denkinger will take over the presidency of the German Society of Geriatrics (DGG), which represents about 2,000 members, for the next two years. The 49-year-old chief physician and medical director of the Agaplesion Bethesda Clinic Ulm and Chair of Geriatrics at Ulm University Hospital emphasizes the importance of geriatrics in an aging society. He calls for more attention to prevention, rehabilitation and cross-sectoral care for older people, supported by sufficient financial resources. The central goals of his term of office are the promotion of young talent and the integration of digital technologies in geriatric medicine in order to ensure high-quality and dignified care.

Denkinger emphasizes geriatrics as a unique discipline that provides evidence-based and efficient care for multimorbid, very old people by combining elements of internal medicine, neurology, rehabilitation, and psychological and social aspects. He sees geriatrics as a forward-looking field with high scientific standards and social relevance, which must be more firmly anchored politically.

The new president has been a high-profile voice in geriatrics for years, with around 200 scientific publications and articles on mobility promotion, dementia care and fall prevention. He is a specialist in internal medicine, geriatrics and palliative medicine, is involved in numerous professional societies and is liaison officer of the European Geriatric Medicine Society with the European Medicines Agency.

At the DGG General Assembly, Professor Tania Zieschang from Oldenburg was elected President-elect. She heads the University Clinic for Geriatrics at the Oldenburg Hospital and is involved in the promotion of exercise, fall prevention and the care of cognitively impaired people. The previous president, Professor Markus Gosch, will move to the role of past president and will remain active on the board for two years. Denkinger praises Gosch’s merits, including the stronger political presence of the DGG and the focus on care, further education and climate protection.

Private lecturer Dr. Sandra Schütze as treasurer, Dr. Svenja Tietgen as secretary and Professor Katrin Singler as continuing education officer will remain on the board. Professor Rainer Wirth is stepping down from the Executive Board as Past President.

Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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