Award

Professor Hans Georg Näder, chairman and CEO of the Otto Bock Group, was awarded the “Heinrich Bürkle de la Camp Medal” last Thursday for his contributions to the field of medical technology. The presentation took place during the opening ceremonies of the 46th convention of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Plastische und Wiederherstellungschirurgie” (DGPW) (German Association for Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery) in Heidelberg.

“I am honoured and delighted to receive this award, since it confirms our company philosophy. Our goal is to help disabled people maintain or regain their mobility with our innovative products. After all, living with a disability does not have to mean living a disabled life,” says Professor Hans Georg Näder, who sent his regrets as he was unable to receive the medal in person. Since he was part of the delegation of Premier of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff during his trip to Asia, he was represented by his long-term co-operator and orthopaedic master technician Lothar Milde in Heidelberg.

“There was complete agreement that you, as the head of the company Otto Bock, have made outstanding contributions to all aspects of reconstructive and plastic surgery in the medical technology field in particular,” wrote Dr. med. Volker Ewerbeck, president of the DGPW in a letter to Professor Näder and added: “It is the view of the executive committee that the importance of the orthopaedics technology field, which is inextricably linked to reconstructive surgery of organs related to posture and movement, cannot be over-emphasised.” The “Heinrich Bürkle de la Camp Medal” is awarded by the DGPW in honour of the German health professional Heinrich Bürkle de la Camp. The former president of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie” (DGCH) (German Surgery Association) also was the chairperson of the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie” (DGU) (German Accident Surgery Association) and bearer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.