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Award
Triple FOCUS Award for Excellence in Medicine
Three doctors from the Sportklinik Hellersen are once again among Germany’s leading specialists in 2026. FOCUS Gesundheit magazine has once again awarded Dr Petra Scheffer, Dr Wolfgang Welke and Dr Ulrich Schneider the „TOP Mediziner“ seal of approval. For the first time, Dr Petra Scheffer has been recommended in the hand surgery category. The award recognises her particular expertise in reconstructive and functional hand surgery, a field in which she has been setting standards for many years. Dr Wolfgang Welke has once again received the award for his work in the field of chronic pain, and Dr Ulrich Schneider has once again been honoured for his expertise in sports medicine.
MVZ Hellersen
Outpatient orthopaedics in Siegen secured for the long term
Photo: freepik.com
The Medical Care Centre at the Sportklinik Hellersen continues to grow, thereby securing long-term outpatient orthopaedic care in Siegen. The MVZ Hellersen is taking over the orthopaedic practice of Dr Michael Brock and Thomas Trögele. By integrating the practice into the MVZ, stable and reliable structures for the future are being established at an early stage. The takeover strengthens outpatient orthopaedic care in Siegen and the surrounding area and helps to maintain medical expertise in the region in the long term. At the same time, the link to the Sportklinik Hellersen’s Medical Care Centre opens up additional professional and organisational opportunities, enabling the sustainable further development of the practice.
Award
Double employer award for the Sportklinik Hellersen
In 2026, the Sportklinik Hellersen remains one of the most attractive employers in the healthcare sector. Two awards confirm the high quality of the workplace: the kununu Top Company seal for 2026 and the exclusive Top Rated seal for salary satisfaction in 2025. Both honours are based solely on independent reviews by employees and reflect an appreciative work culture as well as remuneration perceived as fair. “We are delighted to receive this recognition. It shows that our staff feel well supported, can rely on one another and that their work is valued,” says Leonie Schaulandt, Head of Human Resources at the Sportklinik Hellersen. The double award underlines the importance of team spirit, a modern corporate culture and attractive working conditions.
Innovation
TOP 100 Seal 2026 for exceptional innovative strength
In 2026, the Sportklinik Hellersen ranks among the most innovative medium-sized institutions in Germany and has been awarded the TOP 100 seal. The competition recognises companies that systematically develop and sustainably embed innovation. It is based on a scientific selection process involving more than 100 assessment criteria relating to the innovation climate, processes, organisation and success. A key driver is the consistent internationalisation under the Hellersen Hospital brand umbrella. Through global collaborations and structured knowledge transfer, medical innovations are identified at an early stage and integrated sustainably into clinical practice. “Specialisation, modern organisational structures and international networking are, for us, inextricably linked,” emphasises Dirk Burghaus, adding: “The TOP 100 award confirms that we are on the right track and is, at the same time, an incentive to continue developing medical innovation responsibly.”
Award
Gold status in Patient Blood Management
The Sportklinik Hellersen has once again been recognised for its outstanding commitment to patient safety and has achieved Gold status in Blood Management. This means the specialist clinic for orthopaedics, trauma surgery, sports medicine and joint replacement is certified for the period 2026 to 2028. It was first awarded the Silver Certificate back in 2024.
Since then, the processes have been consistently refined and firmly embedded in everyday clinical practice. The patient-centred, evidence-based approach promotes blood health, reduces blood loss and limits the use of donated blood to what is medically necessary.
Measures begin even before a planned operation with the early detection and treatment of anaemia and continue throughout the entire treatment process.
Award
Sportklinik Hellersen Doctors in the Stern Doctors' List
Two doctors from the Sportklinik Hellersen have been included in the latest Stern Doctors’ List 2026. Dr Oliver Meier, Head of the Department of Specialist Spinal Surgery, has been recognised in the field of spinal surgery, and Dr Ulrich Schneider, Senior Consultant in Sports Medicine, is once again among the recommended specialists in the field of sports medicine.
The selection is carried out by the independent research institute MINQ in Munich. A team of experts comprising doctors, journalists and database specialists evaluates specialist publications, conducts interviews with colleagues in the field and also takes into account the experiences of patients, self-help groups and patient associations. In total, the Stern Doctors’ List 2026 comprises 2026 recommendations across 101 medical specialities and serves as a guide for patients seeking specialist doctors.
Olympia
#TeamHellersen for Olympics
Photo: LSB NRW / Andrea Bowinkelmann
Germany is currently in the bidding process for the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Four cities and regions are considered potential host locations – including the Rhine-Ruhr region. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has developed a compelling, sustainable and forward-looking concept to bring the Games to North Rhine-Westphalia (read more about the bid on page 22 in the guest article by the LSB NRW).
The history of the Sportklinik Hellersen began 80 years ago with the treatment of its first athletes. This close connection to sport has remained to this day, and so the Sportklinik Hellersen is supporting the Olympic bid for North Rhine-Westphalia and was part of the LSB campaign “Together for the greatest moment”.
“As a Sportklinik Hellersen, the Olympics and competition are in our DNA. Every day we work with athletes who want to improve their performance and come to us for performance diagnostics – but also with athletes who have sports injuries and whom we help get back into competition quickly. That is why the Olympics are a matter close to our hearts and we support the bid for North Rhine-Westphalia and for Germany,” says Dirk Burghaus, CEO of at the Sportklinik Hellersen. “There is no other event worldwide, which can bring different cultures together and foster mutual understanding across the globe just like the Olympics,” he continues.
