Wolfgang Wehner: After 12.5 years, Suhl's blood donor boss is retiring

Wolfgang Wehner: After 12.5 years, Suhl's blood donor boss is retiring

After 12.5 years at the helm of the Institute for Transfusion Medicine Suhl (ITMS), Wolfgang Wehner is taking stock today, June 25, 2025, and is retiring. His last day at work falls on the open day in the new blood donation extension, which was completed on schedule and is scheduled for next Saturday. A look back at its beginnings makes it clear how much the institute has gone through under Wehner's leadership.

Wehner, now 65 years old, took over the institute at a time when the situation was anything but rosy. “I'm leaving with satisfaction,” is how he assesses the developments for which he and his team were responsible. He faced hostility for a long time, but in the end he left behind a solid economic foundation on which his successor can build. He has shown a good knack for getting the ITMS out of trouble.

A look into the future

With the end of his term of office, a new era begins for the institute. The new managing director, who is already known, will take charge of the business. The position has become increasingly important in recent years as blood and plasma donations have continued to increase. In the Suhl blood and plasma donation center, under the direction of Wehner and Dr. Hartmut Kroll, a dedicated team ensures that donors receive optimal care. To make an appointment, the team can be reached by phone at (0 36 81) 3 73 – 130 or by email atfragen@blutspendesuhl.de. Blood donation centers are also well positioned outside Suhl, in Eisenach, Erfurt-Rieth and Ilmenau.

The commitment of Wolfgang Wehner and his team was of great importance for the people in the region. The institute has not only built a strong network for blood donation, but also made an important contribution to healthcare in the area. This became clear around the new extension building, which creates additional capacity and thus ensures that sufficient donations will continue to be available in the future.

The challenges of tomorrow

What's next for the institute? The new managing director will certainly bring a breath of fresh air to the events at the institute after Wehner's departure. Not only is operational efficiency on the agenda, the well-being of donors is also a top priority. This is particularly important as the demand for blood donations and their high-quality processing is constantly increasing.

“It takes passion to work in transfusion medicine,” explains Wehner. The ITMS services are highly valued not only locally, but also nationally. The achievements of the past few years provide a solid basis for the challenges that lie ahead. So it remains to be hoped that local people will continue to show their willingness to donate blood, because the lives of many depend on it.

If you have any questions or concerns, citizens can contact the various donation centers at any time, which, among other things, also offer further information on donor recruitment and public relations. Blood donation is and remains an indispensable part of our community.