Revolution at the University of Magdeburg: New professorship for modern medical didactics!

Revolution at the University of Magdeburg: New professorship for modern medical didactics!

On November 3, 2025, the Medical Faculty of the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg launched a new professorship for medical didactics, teaching development and training research. The holder of this professorship has been Prof. Dr. since November 1, 2025. med. Franziska Bäßler, who previously worked at the Heidelberg University Medical Center and led a working group for teaching and training research there. The main aim of this new professorship is to significantly improve teaching and training in medical studies. This also includes preparation for modern, digital and patient-centered medicine.

Another focus is on developing important skills such as empathetic communication, teamwork and psychological resilience. Prof. Bäßler plans to integrate various innovative teaching methods such as simulation training, acting patient programs and modern digital tools into his teaching. Classic didactic methods should also be interlinked with gamification and e-learning in order to make learning more clear and interactive. The goals are not to replace time with teachers, but to optimally complement it.

Innovation in medical studies

A central point of Prof. Bäßler's work will be the reform of the medical licensing regulations, which strives for a more competency-oriented orientation of medical studies in Germany. This reform is intended to ensure that students gain practical experience at an early stage and are better prepared for everyday working life. A typical example of the innovative power of this professorship is the coordination of the elective track Digital Medicine at Heidelberg University Medicine, which is intended to help advance the integration of digital media into medical training.

A long-held goal is to further develop the Magdeburg curriculum and integrate modern examination and evaluation procedures that promote students' communicative skills. This also includes the medical management of the skills lab, which is essential for practical exercises in medical studies.

Background of Prof. Bäßler

Prof. Bäßler’s roots go back to her time as a student. Born in 1983, she studied medicine in Freiburg, Spain and the USA. She completed her specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy at the LVR Clinic in Düsseldorf. Further training to obtain a Master of Medical Education (MME) at the University of Bern also shows her commitment to medical education. She has been actively involved in numerous scientific societies and international organizations and will now help shape the future of medical education.

Parallel to these developments, there is tragic news in Uruapan, Mexico. On November 2, Mayor Carlos Manzo was the victim of an attack when he was attacked with a gun near a public event. The attacker, a man in a white sweatshirt, fired a total of seven shots. Manzo was quickly taken to the hospital but later died. Security forces neutralized the attacker on site. These frightening incidents highlight the challenges faced by public figures in certain regions and highlight the need for better security measures.

In medicine, as well as in other areas of life, there are various challenges that continually illustrate the need for sound training and safety. Be it in the teaching role of medical faculties or in the responsibility of politicians, who often find themselves in dangerous situations. It remains to be hoped that both teaching development and the security situation in society can be continually improved.