About Us
Inspiring Breakthroughs and Shaping the Future of Health
The Broermann Medical Innovation Award was established in 2024 to recognize outstanding scientific achievements in the field of medical innovation and to promote further research in the field. The award honors scientists whose research activities exhibit exceptional scientific excellence and who already have or have the potential to appreciably advance medical care worldwide.
The award publicly recognizes and highlights the prize winners’ remarkable achievements. We furthermore aim to inspire other scientists and researchers to achieve a similar standard of exceptional success in scientific endeavors and the development of innovative medical solutions.

History and Inspiration
The Broermann Medical Innovation Award was established by Dr. Bernard große Broermann, a lawyer and auditor who passed away in spring 2024. He was the founder and sole shareholder of the Asklepios Clinics Group. Asklepios is one of the leading healthcare groups in Germany, driving innovation in healthcare through significant investments in cutting-edge medicine and digitalization, and is committed to advancing medical progress for the benefit of patients, which is entirely in line with the guiding principles of its founder, Dr. große Broermann.
Dr. große Broermann was born in November 1943 in Damme, Lower Saxony, as the son of a farmer. Even as a child, he helped out on his parents’ farm and was thus introduced to entrepreneurial thinking at an early age. During this time, the desire to build a successful company of his own emerged. This desire was soon combined with the vision of founding not just any company, but of finding a field of entrepreneurial activity that was open to innovation and promised real benefits for people.
Already during his time at the grammar school in Vechta, Dr. große Broermann developed a great interest in the natural sciences and biochemical mechanisms. Against that background and in view of the fact that whilst medications used up to that point alleviated symptoms, but generally did not combat the underlying cause of diseases, he decided as a young adult to devote himself more intensively to the field of medicine and to establish a company that promotes innovation and that focused on people’s health. A degree in medicine and chemistry at the Free University of Berlin provide the academic foundation for this. After his preliminary exams, Dr. große Broermann switched to the subjects of business administration and law in order to acquire a solid basic knowledge of how to found a company and manage it.
Dr. große Broermann completed his studies, and was admitted to the bar, working as a lawyer and auditor. In order to supplement his rather theoretically oriented studies in business administration with practical, applicable knowledge, Dr. große Broermann completed MBA programs both at INSEAD (L’institute européen d’administration des affaires) in Fontainebleau near Paris, and at the Harvard Business School on the East Coast of the USA.
Dr. Bernard große Broermann initially began his professional career at the Ernst & Whinney auditing firm (today’s Ernst & Young, EY), where – following his passion – he was responsible for setting up a mergers & acquisitions department in the medical sector. The novel mandate during this time, which was to serve as a model for the establishment of the Asklepios Group, was the commissioning of a client who wanted to build a larger hospital chain in California by purchasing several hospitals. During this time, Dr. große Broermann gained valuable experience in the hospital sector, and planted a seed that ultimately germinated into the idea to build a hospital chain in Germany. One aspect of that idea was paramount from the outset: to make a sustainable contribution to better healthcare for patients in Germany.
Since the founding of Asklepios in 1985, numerous financially troubled hospitals that were threatened with closure have been acquired, and those hospitals have been economically and infrastructurally renovated, and expanded into modern healthcare facilities. The medical services offered by Asklepios clinics have been improved regularly, and new facilities have been established that appropriately complement existing facilities which often constitute unique and in-demand healthcare services of the respective hospital in the region. Today, the Asklepios Group has more than 160 healthcare facilities throughout Germany, including Europe’s largest clinic cluster in Hamburg, as well as majority holdings in the publicly listed companies MEDICLIN AG and RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG and the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg.
The Asklepios-Group Today
Asklepios was founded in 1985 by Dr. Bernard große Broermann and remains one of Germany’s leading healthcare groups which is still family-owned. Its core values are medical quality, innovation, and social responsibility.
With approximately 70,000 employees, Asklepios operates about 160 health facilities in 15 federal states, treating approximately 3.5 million patients annually. The group also includes the publicly listed companies MEDICLIN AG and RHÖN-KLINIKUM AG. Asklepios provides a nationwide network of comprehensive healthcare services, from basic and specialized hospitals to rehabilitation clinics and outpatient medical services in medical care centers (MVZs).

Asklepios places the paramount value on the highest medical standards and the continuous development of treatment methods and technologies. Medical quality is Asklepios’ top priority, and is supported by a number of quality management systems. In order to always be able to offer modern medicine, Asklepios is also committed to innovation. Asklepios strongly promotes the development and introduction of new procedures, technologies, and concepts that contribute to improving treatment quality and increasing patient safety. Asklepios is a leader in the field of digitalizing healthcare.
The use of state-of-the-art robotic surgery systems also increases patient safety. All profits have always remained in the company and can thus be used for further investments. In this way, the economic efficiency of the Asklepios clinics ensures quality and innovation.
A shining example of medical excellence within the Asklepios Group is the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg (UKGM), the only private university hospital in Germany. As a maximum care provider, the UKGM offers outstanding medical care, while its integration with the two medical faculties in Giessen and Marburg enables the latest scientific findings to be integrated into patient care. The research activities at the UKGM contribute to achieving medical breakthroughs and developing innovative therapeutic approaches. As a result of its close cooperation with the medical faculties of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg, the UKGM is a significant medical research and innovation center in Hesse and Germany with a reach far beyond the national borders.
Meet the Team
Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger – Chairperson
Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger is an Elie-Metchnikoff Professor of Medicine at the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, and Emeritus Director of the Department of Lung Development and Remodeling at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research. Since 2024, he has served as Chairperson of the Broermann Medical Innovation Award, a role that aligns with his lifelong dedication to advancing medical science and recognizing excellence in research.
In addition to his position with the award, Prof. Dr. Seeger chairs the Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), the Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), and the German Center for Lung Research (DZL). He is also the founding director of the Institute for Lung Health and a past president of the Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI).

Prof. Dr. Seeger’s illustrious career in medicine and academia is marked by significant contributions to pulmonary research. In particular, he has been focusing on the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension, including hypoxia- and high altitude-driven sequelae, and novel treatment strategies for pulmonary hypertension. His center invented/initiated the use of inhaled iloprost, inhaled treprostinil, sildenafil and riociguat for PH treatment, all worldwide approved therapies, and the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for reverse remodeling therapy of PH. Recently, he established PVRI-GoDeep, a groundbreaking global meta-registry for pulmonary hypertension.
His role as a professor of medicine brings him immense fulfillment, enabling him to mentor future leaders in the field while driving innovative research. With over 1,000 original publications, an H-index of 144, and more than 90,000 citations (Web of Scholar, 11/2024), Prof. Dr. Seeger’s achievements underscore his profound impact on medical science and his unwavering commitment to improving lives through research and education.

Dr. Corinna Larsen – Director Operations
Dr. Corinna M. Larsen is a distinguished expert in virology and scientific administration. She earned her doctoral degree in Biology from Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), specializing in medical virology. Since transitioning to science management in 2017, Dr. Larsen has excelled in roles such as Research and Project Manager and scientific administrator, demonstrating expertise in organizational, strategic, and financial management within complex scientific environments.
In her role with the Broermann Medical Innovation Award, Dr. Larsen is excited to contribute to the recognition of trailblazing researchers and projects that have the potential to change lives. Her background in virology, combined with her experience in academic and hospital settings, positions her perfectly to evaluate the scientific and clinical significance of each nomination.
Mirjam Malko – Communications & PR Specialist
Mirjam’s passion for reading, writing, and connecting with others led her to major in English and German Studies. After graduating, she honed her skills in marketing, starting with the world’s largest fast fashion label and later working with online shops, agencies, and subscription platforms. However, she eventually realized that working for profit-driven companies didn’t align with her values, prompting her to rethink her career path.
Today, as a Communications & PR Specialist for the Broermann Medical Innovation Award, Mirjam is proud to contribute to a mission that celebrates groundbreaking discoveries & excellence in medicine. She finds fulfillment in amplifying the stories of innovators who are changing lives for the better.
