Dr. Martin Dirksen-Fischer

16/07/2025

In memory of Dr. Martin Dirksen-Fischer

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Dr Martin Dirksen-Fischer, who suddenly passed away on 27th June 2025 at the age of 65. Dr. Dirksen-Fischer worked in the Public Health Service (ÖGD) of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg for over 28 years. After many years at the Hamburg-Eimsbüttel Health Department, he took over the management of the Hamburg Port Health Centre at the Institute for Hygiene and Environment in 2012. In this role, he worked closely with the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM) and played a key role in shaping developments in the field of maritime medicine - at both national and international level. Even after his official retirement from active service in August 2024, Dr. Dirksen-Fischer continued to work with great commitment in the ÖGD and in various honorary functions.
We are not only losing an outstanding doctor and colleague with him, but also a people-oriented, honest and valued colleague who worked tirelessly for public health. We will miss his expertise, his humour and his reliability.

With silent sympathy,
the Institute for Hygiene and Environment and the Institute of Occupational Medicine and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM)

Johannes Neumann

03/07/2025

Promoting young talents in the "Healthy Sailing" project

Johannes Neumann, M.Sc., doctoral student at the Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), is researching innovative approaches to improve infection control on board large passenger ships and in harbours as part of the European HEALTHY SAILING project (Horizon Europe, 2022-2025).The international consortium brings together 24 institutions from 12 countries - including universities, state health institutes, research centres, shipping companies and other international partners.

Its research work includes:

  • Systematic literature review on communication and response in ports during outbreaks of infection on passenger ships
  • An online survey of on-board medical staff on the underreporting and care of infectious diseases
  • Qualitative interviews with shipping companies on risk communication and occupational health requirements on board
  • The evaluation of maritime declarations of health following reported outbreaks of infection on cruise ships in the port of Hamburg (2014-2024)
  • The development of a predictive toolkit for capacity planning in the event of outbreaks in ports
The aim is to develop scientifically sound measures and practice-oriented guidelines to sustainably strengthen crisis resilience in international passenger shipping.

Further information on the project: https://healthysailing.eu

ECR-Solace

01/07/2025

The SOLACE Project was part of the conversation at the recent #ECR2025, with:

  • Joanna Chorostowska and Anna Kerpel-Fronius introducing SOLACE’s goals and approach to integrating screening into national systems
  • Viktoria Palm discussing how AI tools can ease pressure on radiologists
  • Helmut Prosch outlining SOLACE’s work on shared screening policies and training
  • Regina Beets-Tan, MD, PhD placing the project within Europe’s wider cancer imaging strategy
  • Mario Silva discussing how the ESTI position paper supports SOLACE’s focus on quality and standardisation
  • Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko and Hans-Ulrich Kauczor reflecting on SOLACE key achievements so far, including early pilot progress and stronger coordination
The Occupational Medicine Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM) is a proud partner in SOLACE, which is working to strengthen lung cancer screening across the EU.

Watch the interviews and learn more: https://shorturl.at/nzK4m

Containerschiff am Kai

10/06/2025

Maritime Medicine Research Group (AG Schifffahrtsmedizin) has been recognized as one of the Top 10 most prolific author groups worldwide

We’re excited to share that our Maritime Medicine Research Group (AG Schifffahrtsmedizin) with its head Prof. Dr. med. Marcus Oldenburg has been recognized as one of the Top 10 most prolific author groups worldwide in the recent publication: “Development and Research Directions in Seafarers’ Welfare and Rights: A Bibliometric Analysis Between 1920 and 2023” by Hanh-Thi Hong Hoang, Le-Thanh Nguyen, Sung-Ho Park and Jong-Kwan Kim

This recognition highlights the lasting impact and importance of our research on the health and welfare of seafarers—both at sea and in the scientific community. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team for their outstanding work, collaboration, and commitment to advancing maritime health.

Full article: https://lnkd.in/eeiWHdMb

Gewaltprävention in Notaufnahmen

05/06/2025

New publications on violence prevention in emergency departments

Violence towards medical staff - especially in emergency departments - is a growing problem. The Mental Health working group headed by PD Dr Dr Stefanie Mache at ZfAM is making an important contribution to this with two recent publications:

  • Study: ‘Violence prevention in emergency departments - a qualitative study from Germany on the role of hospital management, executives and employees’
The study highlights how various stakeholders can jointly contribute to violence prevention and offers well-founded impulses for structural and organisational improvements.
  • Handbook: ‘Preventing violence in the emergency department’
A practical handbook with a scientific basis and concrete recommendations for action for more safety, appreciation and resilience in everyday working life.

Both publications support managers, teams and organisations in strengthening protection and health in the workplace in a targeted manner.

➡️ [ Link to the study ]➡️ [ Link to the handbook ]

Many thanks to the authors Sonja Reißmann, Tanja Wirth, Vanessa Beringer, Volker Harth and Stefanie Mache!

preisser-alexandra-m-prof-dr-quelle-mike-auerbach

22/05/2025

Update of the S2k guideline on the occupational disease silicosis with practical assessment aid now published

The updated S2k guideline ‘Diagnosis and assessment of occupational disease no. 4101 quartz dust lung disease (silicosis)’ has now been published. It was coordinated by Professor Alexandra M. Preisser (ZfAM) together with Dr Christian Eisenhawer from the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine (IPA) of the German Social Accident Insurance at Ruhr University Bochum on behalf of the German Society for Pneumology and Respiratory Medicine (DGP).

The guideline serves as orientation for medical specialists and institutions such as cost bearers, the Medical Expert Advisory Board and social courts. It is available online in the AWMF guideline register.
The full press release can be found at DGP-Aktuelles

Solace

07/04/2025

EU-SOLACE : Strengthening lung cancer screening in Europe

SOLACE aims to develop, test and disseminate tools to overcome identified bottlenecks and target health inequalities in different European countries. It will provide a toolbox for individualised approaches to lung cancer screening at national or regional level.

More information at Homepage - SOLACE

ai healthy ship logo

04/02/2025

EU project "AI-healthy ship"

The main objective of the interdisciplinary ‘AI-healthy ship’ project is to maintain and improve the individual health and well-being of seafarers on board merchant ships of the participating shipping companies. As they do not have access to health and fitness personnel during their stays on the ship, which typically last several months, an alternative form of personal guidance is needed to maintain or optimise their personal state of health. In the ‘AI-healthy ship’ project, this is being done for the first time with the help of innovative technologies that utilise the principles of artificial intelligence (AI).

Further information: https://ai-healthy-ship.eu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ai-healthy-ship

CHCR Logo

17/07/2024

Newsletter of Health Services Research and Public Health

In the current CHCR & PH newsletter, our Health Services Research (NaaV) working group at ZfAM introduces itself.

North German occupational medicine and occupational psychology health services research: ensuring quality, further developing digital transformation

Under the leadership of Dr Robert Herold, the transdisciplinary junior research group ‘North German occupational medicine and occupational psychology health services research: Ensuring quality, developing digital transformation’ (NaaV) from the fields of occupational medicine, psychology, epidemiology and health sciences is working on the development of approaches to increase the quality of care in occupational medicine, even with limited occupational health personnel resources. In addition to conducting qualitative and quantitative studies on the care situation and telemedicine services, quality indicators for evaluating occupational care services will be developed and tested during the project period (2024 - 2026). Another aim of the project is to qualify young scientists.

For further reading: CHCR & PR Newsletter