If you have a patient that you believe would benefit from the Hy⁵ approach, there are 6 centers of excellence throughout Germany. These are listed below.
At the Schüchtermann Clinic, more than 10,000 patients are treated seamlessly and comprehensively every year - from prevention to diagnosis and therapy to rehabilitation. Our entire team has set itself the goal of providing outstanding medical care to every single person. This requires not only specialist knowledge but also empathy. Because we not only want to treat our patients in the best possible way, but also give them the feeling that they are in good hands in every respect.
Heart disease can have different causes and manifestations. Therefore, the therapy methods are also diverse. There is no one, always correct treatment. Whether exclusively with medication, invasive cardiology or cardiac surgery: Every patient is considered as an individual case with his or her personal requirements - as a team. Through the cross-departmental exchange of our specialists, we would like to find and follow the most promising and safest therapeutic path for you individually.
As a specialist clinic for cardiovascular diseases and with our integrated clinic concept, we offer our patients the best conditions for this. The guiding principle of our actions is the patient-oriented cooperation between the individual disciplines that is lived every day. This is also evidenced by the fact that interdisciplinary teams are available for very specific issues. This close collaboration not only helps to find the right treatment, but also ensures seamless and continuous care from prevention to rehabilitation.
Since April 2020, Prof. Nicolas Doll holds the post of Medical Director of Heart Surgery at Schüchtermann Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany. His fields of interest include surgical ablation of AF, pacemaker, defibrillator, biventricular stimulation, OPCAB surgery, minimally invasive valve surgery, and diving medicine. Prof. Doll has extensively published on different aspects of atrial fibrillation and was the PI of the CEASE-AF trial, a landmark study in hybrid ablation. He has trained hundreds of surgeons around the globe in different surgical techniques of AF ablation and LAA management and leads one of the biggest training centers in Europe. Prof. Doll has a particular interest in hybrid and close collaboration with electrophysiologist partners to enhance teamwork and ensure continuity of patient care.
In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, diving, running, he also plays tennis and loves a backgammon challenge.
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After graduation, Dr. Geza Horvath worked in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, from 1993 to 2009, and since 2009 he has been working at Schüchtermann-Klinik in Bad Rothenfelde, Germany. He currently works as a consultant cardiac surgeon, with a focus on minimally invasive valve surgery, concomitant ablation, stand-alone thoracoscopic ablation procedures, and complex adult cardiac surgery.
He also plays an active role in teaching and mentoring residents, supports their career development and professional growth. He trains surgeons in various surgical ablation techniques in many European countries. He takes part in different trials, and studies related to atrial fibrillation. In his free time, he travels extensively and enjoys skiing, swimming, and diving. He is also interested in photography and astronomy.
Since September 2017 Prof. Dr. Gerold Mönnig has been Head of the Department of Cardiology at Schüchtermann Clinic in Bad Rothenfelde, Germany. His clinical and scientific expertise focuses on structural heart disease, cardiovascular medicine, and invasive electrophysiology, reflected in numerous scientific publications. Over more than 20 years at the University of Münster, he was trained by Günter Breithardt, a pioneer in radiofrequency ablation. As a result, one of his principal areas of interest is the treatment of atrial fibrillation, including active involvement in the international AFNET network.
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We are a Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, commonly known as HDZ NRW, a leading university hospital in Bad Oeynhausen specializing in cardiovascular, heart surgery, and diabetes care. Affiliated with the Ruhr University Bochum and the Medical Faculty OWL of Bielefeld University, it is internationally recognized for advanced cardiac treatments, including heart transplantation, heart failure therapy, and minimally invasive heart procedures. The center treats tens of thousands of patients each year and is considered one of Europe’s most important specialist clinics for heart and metabolic diseases. As a certified AF center and university-affiliated institution, HDZ NRW combines extensive clinical expertise, multidisciplinary cardiac care, and active research programs, making it a key center for the management of stand-alone AF patients, including complex and persistent AF cases.
Jan Gummert served his General Surgery Internship in Bonn, Germany and his Cardiac Surgery Residency in Goettingen, Germany. He was a staff surgeon in the Heart Center Leipzig, Germany from 1996 to 1997 and obtained his Transplant Research Fellowship in Stanford, USA, from 1997 to 1998. He was a staff surgeon at the Heart Center Leipzig, Germany from 1998 to 2000.
He obtained his Ph.D. in 2000 and held the position of Co-Director of the Department of Cardiac Surgery, in the Heart Center Leipzig, Germany from 2001 to 2006. He was Director of the department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the University Hospital in Jena from 2006 to January 2009.
Since 2009 he holds the position as a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart- and Diabetes Center NRW Ruhr – University Bochum in Germany. His major interest is minimal invasive cardiac surgery (off pump bypass surgery, mitral surgery, aortic valve surgery) as well as heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts.
PD Dr. med. Sabina Günther was trained at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich. Afterwards, she completed a clinical fellowship in cardiothoracic transplant and MCS at Stanford. Since returning to Germany in 2020, she works at the Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Bad Oeynhausen, since 2023 as an attending in cardiac surgery.
Besides general cardiac surgery and heart failure, her clinical interests include atrial fibrillation. Jointly with the electrophysiology team, she manages the thoracoscopic ablation program at her center.
She loves spending her free time near or on the water, practicing different kinds of sports, or reading crime stories.
Philipp Sommer, M.D., FHRS, FESC, FEHRA, is Professor of Cardiology at the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW, University of Bochum, in Bad Oeynhausen. He has served as Director of the Department of Electrophysiology since November 2018. Born in 1975, Dr. Sommer studied medicine from 1995 to 2002. He then worked at the Heart Center Leipzig from 2003 to 2018 before joining the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW. Dr. Sommer is married and has two children.
Outside of work, he describes himself as a lousy skier and golfer. More than 20 years ago, Nicolas Doll taught him an important lesson: that long-term success can only be achieved through cooperation and interaction. This philosophy continues to shape his work today. Together with Dr. Günther, the HDZ hybrid team works in this collaborative spirit.
The University Heart and Vascular Center (UKE) of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf is a maximum care facility with 272 beds. It sets standards in the treatment of heart, circulatory and vascular diseases: Every year, more than 10,200 inpatients and 19,500 outpatients are treated, around 4,000 operations and around 4,500 catheter procedures are performed.
The quality of patient care, research and teaching is ensured through interdisciplinary cooperation and modern care concepts at the UKE as well as through continuous training, further education and training.
Cooperation with partner clinics and cardiologists in private practice enables the permanent exchange of experience with experts from cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular medicine and paediatric cardiac medicine and leads to efficient treatment procedures of the highest quality.
Evaldas Girdauskas serves as Director of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University Heart & Vascular Center Hamburg. He assumed the department's leadership in October 2025 after previously directing the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University Hospital Augsburg.
Professor Girdauskas is internationally recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, heart valve repair and reconstruction, bicuspid aortic valve disease, and complex aortic surgery. His clinical and research work focuses on advancing reconstructive valve techniques, aortic diseases, and precision cardiovascular medicine through translational research and biobanking initiatives. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and is an active member of leading international cardiac surgery societies, including the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.
Since 2018, Prof. Simon Pecha has been Senior Cardiac Surgeon at the University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, where he leads the Program for Surgical Arrhythmia Treatment. His main clinical and scientific focus is minimally invasive cardiac surgery and the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation, including minimally invasive and thoracoscopic ablation strategies. As Head of the Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory and Principal Investigator within the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), his research focuses on minimally invasive cardiac surgery, arrhythmia surgery and cardiac regeneration.
In his spare time, he enjoys sports like rowing and biking, spending time with his family, and outdoor activities.
Professor Andreas Metzner is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), where he serves as Head of Electrophysiology. He specializes in the diagnosis and catheter-based treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, with a particular focus on atrial fibrillation and other complex heart rhythm disorders.
Professor Metzner earned his medical degree at the Universities of Kiel and Marburg, completed his cardiology training in Hamburg, and received his habilitation in 2015 for research on balloon-based ablation systems for atrial fibrillation. He joined UKE in 2019 to lead interventional electrophysiology and was appointed to a W2 professorship in 2022.
An internationally recognized expert in cardiac electrophysiology, Professor Metzner has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has played a leading role in the development and evaluation of innovative mapping and ablation technologies for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. He is actively involved in clinical research, education, and international collaborations in the field of heart rhythm management.
His hobbies are his family and friends, running and soccer.
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The Heart Center at the University Hospital Cologne (Universitätsklinikum Köln) is a leading academic referral center for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and complex cardiac arrhythmias. Supported by a multidisciplinary team of electrophysiologists, cardiac imaging specialists, and cardiac surgeons, the University of Cologne Heart Center is also actively engaged in translational research and international clinical studies focused on innovation in AF management and rhythm therapy.
Since August 2024, Prof. Lenard Conradi holds position of Medical Director of Cardiac Surgery at the University Hospital Cologne, Germany. His fields of interest include endoscopic and reconstructive valve surgery, complete-arterial bypass surgery and surgical therapy of atrial fibrillation. Prof. Conradi fully endorses interdisciplinary heart team approaches including close collaboration with electrophysiologist partners to ensure the highest level of patient care.
His spare time is dedicated to his family, particularly his two daughters of 3 and 6 years.
Dr. Ilija Djordjevic is a consultant cardiac surgeon at the University Hospital Cologne. His fields of interest are heart rhythm surgery, off-pump bypass surgery and mechanical circulatory support therapy. He is responsible for the surgical part of the CIED/AF-Team at the University Hospital Cologne and supports the team spirit of establishing interdisciplinary therapy as the standard approach of cardiovascular medicine. He is married and father of two daughters.
His favorite hobby is soccer. Actually, he is involved on a voluntary basis in the Serbian orthodox parish in Cologne and serves as chairman of the board.
Prof. Dr. Daniel Steven is Head of Electrophysiology and Full Professor at the University Hospital of Cologne. His clinical focus includes catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and other complex arrhythmias, as well as advanced device therapy.
He is actively involved in the development and clinical implementation of innovative ablation technologies and interdisciplinary treatment strategies, including hybrid approaches in close collaboration with cardiac surgery. He previously served as Speaker of the Working Group on Electrophysiology (AGEP) of the German Cardiac Society (DGK) and is engaged in multiple international initiatives, including activities within the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and participation in multicenter clinical studies.
His research focuses on improving outcomes in patients with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias through advances in mapping, ablation techniques, and minimally invasive therapies.
In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and is a highly dedicated endurance athlete.
PD Dr. Jonas Wörmann is a senior consultant in cardiac electrophysiology at the University Hospital of Cologne. He specializes in the interventional treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, with a particular focus on catheter ablation, advanced device therapy and LAA management.
A key area of his work is hybrid (surgical–catheter-based) atrial fibrillation ablation. In this approach, he collaborates closely with cardiac surgeons and is directly involved in the procedure, contributing to an integrated and interdisciplinary treatment strategy that remains uncommon, particularly in Germany.
His research is centered on developing and refining minimally invasive, patient-tailored therapies, with a strong emphasis on improving outcomes for patients with complex and high-risk arrhythmias.
He enjoys traveling, cooking, sailing and running in his free time.
The diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases require a high degree of expertise and experience. That is why care provided by established specialists is of crucial importance.
At the University Heart and Vascular Center of Frankfurt University Hospital, we follow a precision medicine treatment approach and, as part of an interdisciplinary team comprising specialists in cardiology, angiology, and cardiac and vascular surgery, develop a treatment plan for your heart health that is optimally tailored to your individual needs. Thanks to the highly specialized range of university-level treatments at Frankfurt University Hospital, all other medical disciplines—including those for extracardiac conditions—are available around the clock, 365 days a year, through collaborative partnerships.
The Heart Team - When it comes to treating your cardiovascular disease, you can rely on our combined expertise and specialized knowledge in the field of cardiovascular medicine. As part of the “Heart Team,” we discuss your specific case with you on a daily basis through an interdisciplinary approach and determine the best personalized precision medicine treatment for you.
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Walther is Director of the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt. An internationally recognised cardiac surgeon, he specialises in advanced cardiac surgery, transcatheter valve interventions and the treatment of complex structural heart disease.
Following his medical training at the University of Cologne, Professor Walther completed specialist training in cardiac surgery at the University Heart Center Leipzig and undertook a fellowship in paediatric cardiac surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Throughout his career, he has held senior clinical leadership positions at some of Germany's leading heart centres, including the Kerckhoff Heart Center, before returning to Frankfurt to lead the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery.
Alongside his clinical practice, Professor Walther has made significant contributions to the advancement of cardiac surgery and structural heart interventions. He is an active member of several leading national and international professional societies, including the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) and the Society for Heart Valve Disease.
Dr. Fabian Christoph Emrich is Deputy Director of the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery and Head of the Heart Failure Centre at Goethe University Hospital Frankfurt. A board-certified cardiac surgeon with additional qualifications in intensive care and emergency medicine, he specialises in advanced heart failure surgery, mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation.
Following his medical training at the Heart Center Leipzig, Dr. Emrich completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Stanford University, where he also participated in the Stanford Graduate School of Business Ignite innovation programme. His clinical career has included senior leadership roles at leading university hospitals in Frankfurt and Augsburg, with a focus on surgical heart failure therapy and mechanical circulatory support.
Alongside his clinical practice, Dr. Emrich has an active research profile with more than 80 scientific publications and an h-index of 17. His research interests include heart failure, cardiac surgery and translational cardiovascular science. He has received several professional distinctions, including the Hans Borst Prize from the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG), and is actively involved in medical education and postgraduate training.
Reza Wakili, MD, is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist specializing in the interventional and pharmacological management of cardiac arrhythmias, with a particular focus on atrial fibrillation. His clinical expertise includes pulsed-field ablation (PFA), complex ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation with mechanical circulatory support (protected VT ablation), and the management of heart failure–associated arrhythmias.
He completed his clinical training in internal medicine and cardiology at LMU Munich (2004–2012), followed by appointments as senior physician at LMU Munich (2012–2017) and head of electrophysiology at the West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Hospital Essen (2017–2022). Since 2023, he serves as Deputy Medical Director and Head of Rhythmology at the University Heart and Vascular Center, University Hospital Frankfurt. He has been appointed to a W3 Professorship in Rhythmology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at Goethe University Frankfurt in 2025.
Dr. Wakili received his MD from the University of Freiburg (2005) and completed a research fellowship at the Montreal Heart Institute (2007–2010). He habilitated at LMU Munich in 2016. His research focuses on innovative ablation technologies for atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation strategies post-PCI, VT ablation with circulatory support, and multimodal imaging in electrophysiology. His translational work includes studies on biomarkers, microRNA-related atrial remodeling, and large-animal models of atrial fibrillation.
Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing and following football, skiing, watching ice hockey, cinema, and appreciates single malt whisky and classic Coca-Cola.
The Leipzig Heart Center (Herzzentrum Leipzig) is one of Europe’s leading cardiovascular institutions and a recognized center of excellence for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). With strong integration between electrophysiology, cardiac surgery, and imaging specialists, the center provides comprehensive care for stand-alone AF patients, including persistent and long-standing persistent AF cases. As a major academic and research institution affiliated with Leipzig University, the center is also actively involved in international clinical trials and innovation in AF management and catheter ablation strategies.
Michael Borger is the University Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Leipzig, Germany as well as the Medical Director of the Leipzig Heart Center, one of the largest cardiac surgery centers in Europe. His clinical and research interests include complex aortic surgery, minimal invasive procedures, aortic and mitral valve repair surgery, and arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse. He is an author of over 800 peer-reviewed publications and has an h-index of over 100. He has served on the Task Force of several guideline documents, including two as Co-Chair (2023 ESC Endocarditis and 2025 ESC / EACTS Valvular heart disease). Prof. Borger is a former Associate Editor for EJCTS and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team, he currently sits on the Editorial Board of JTCVS, Can J Cardiology and AORTA, and is an Associate Editor of JACC.
In his spare time, he loves to play sports (skiing, bike riding, basketball, golf, etc.) with his family.
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Dr. Mateo Marin-Cuartas is a cardiac surgeon in the University Department of Cardiac Surgery at the Leipzig Heart Center in Leipzig, Germany. He is board-certified in cardiac surgery and also trained in critical care medicine. Dr. Marin-Cuartas obtained his doctoral degree at the University of Leipzig in Leipzig, Germany, for his research on mitral valve disease, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Stanford University in Stanford, California, with a focus on heart valve biomechanics.
Dr. Marin-Cuartas is the coordinator of academic affairs and the hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation program at the cardiac surgery department in Leipzig. He holds leadership positions at the Latin American Association of Cardiac and Endovascular Surgery (LACES), serves as a member of the Mitral and Tricuspid Task Force at the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS), and holds editorial positions at The European Journal of CardioThoracic Surgery (EJCTS), The Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) Case Reports, The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon (TCS), and CTSnet. Dr. Marín-Cuartas served as the EACTS-appointed Task Force coordinator of the 2025 ESC/EACTS Valvular Heart Disease Guidelines.
His main research interests are valvular heart disease and infective endocarditis. Dr. Mateo Marin-Cuartas is an author on over 120 peer-reviewed publications and has been actively involved in mentoring several early-career researchers and doctoral students.
PD Dr. Kerstin Bode, M.Sc. (LSE) is Head of the Department of Electrophysiology at Heart Center Leipzig, where she specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cardiac arrhythmias. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology and holds a Master's degree with distinction in Health Economics, Outcomes Research and Management in Cardiovascular Science from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Bode completed her habilitation at the University of Leipzig and has extensive experience in both clinical practice and research. Her interests include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, cardiac rhythm devices and health economics. She has served as Principal Investigator and Co-investigator on numerous international clinical trials and is an active member of the ESC, EHRA and DGK. In addition, she is a reviewer for several leading peer-reviewed cardiology journals.
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