Professional Association of German Surgeons

The Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie e.V. (BDC), known until 2022 as the Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgen, is a German professional association and registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Berlin-Mitte. It is the largest surgeons' association in Europe by membership and represents the professional-policy interests of all surgeons working in hospitals or in private practice vis-à-vis politics, authorities, self-governing bodies, and the public. The BDC was founded on 23 April 1960 in Cologne as a professional organization (Standesorganisation). Forty surgeons elected Hans Killian of Freiburg as its first chairman, supported by nine assessors tasked with building up the regional associations (Landesverbände). In 1961 Wolfgang Müller-Osten became president and held the office until 1982. By 1982 the association had 3,500 members. Since 1973 it has been a member of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS), the European umbrella organization of professional specialist medical associations. Since 1998 a full-time managing director has supported the president. In October 2022 the association changed its name to Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie. The BDC's stated goals and tasks include representing all surgical professional matters within the medical profession before public-law corporations, the medical chambers (Ärztekammern), and the associations of statutory health insurance physicians (Kassenärztliche Vereinigungen), as well as before the state, government, and its authorities; advising its members and the aforementioned bodies on surgical matters including specialist training and fee schedules, questions of surgical duties and rights, and advising colleagues on specialist questions; safeguarding surgical interests in public and vis-à-vis the press; supporting and advising surgeons on fundamental professional-law and concrete questions; and protecting against the narrowing and diminution of the surgical specialty. The association offers a broad range of services to members, including continuing education through the BDC|Akademie, the monthly magazine Passion Chirurgie, insurance and advisory services, a starter package for young surgeons, and the Young Surgeons Club (YSC) for junior surgeons. It also engages in health policy advocacy, publishes statements and press releases, and conducts member surveys. Since 1997 it has awarded the Wolfgang-Müller-Osten-Medaille, its highest professional honor for surgeons in Germany, to individuals who have particularly committed themselves to the association as a whole or to individual BDC members.

The Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie e.V. (BDC) was founded on 23 April 1960 in Cologne as the Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgen, a professional organization (Standesorganisation). Forty surgeons elected Hans Killian of Freiburg as the first chairman, and nine assessors were elected to build up the regional associations (Landesverbände). In 1961 Wolfgang Müller-Osten became president of the BDC and held the office until 1982. By 1982 the association had grown to 3,500 members. Since 1973 the BDC has been a member of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS), the European umbrella organization of professional specialist medical associations. Since 1998 a full-time managing director has supported the president. In October 2022 the association changed its name to Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie. The BDC is headquartered in Berlin-Mitte and is the largest surgeons' association in Europe by membership. It represents the professional-policy interests of all surgeons working in hospitals or in private practice vis-à-vis politics, authorities, self-governing bodies, and the public. Its goals and tasks include representing all surgical professional matters within the medical profession before public-law corporations, the medical chambers, and the associations of statutory health insurance physicians, as well as before the state, government, and its authorities; advising members and these bodies on surgical matters including specialist training and fee schedules, questions of surgical duties and rights, and advising colleagues on specialist questions; safeguarding surgical interests in public and vis-à-vis the press; supporting and advising surgeons on fundamental professional-law and concrete questions; and protecting against the narrowing and diminution of the surgical specialty. The BDC provides a range of services to its members, including continuing education through the BDC|Akademie, the monthly magazine Passion Chirurgie, insurance and advisory services, a starter package for young surgeons, and the Young Surgeons Club (YSC). It also engages in health policy advocacy, publishes statements and press releases, and conducts member surveys. Since 1997 the BDC has awarded the Wolfgang-Müller-Osten-Medaille, its highest professional honor for surgeons in Germany, to individuals who have particularly committed themselves to the association as a whole or to individual BDC members. The award is a recognition of the personal commitment of the honorees outside their activity as elected representatives.

• 2022

  In October, the association changed its name to Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie.

• 1998

  A full-time managing director was introduced to support the president.

• 1997

  First awarded the Wolfgang-Müller-Osten-Medaille.

• 1982

  The association had 3,500 members.

• 1973

  Became a member of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS).

• 1961

  Wolfgang Müller-Osten became president and held the office until 1982.

• 1960

  Founded on 23 April in Cologne as Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgen; 40 surgeons elected Hans Killian as first chairman.

The largest surgeons' association in Europe, representing the professional interests of German surgeons.

• BDC|Akademie

  Continuing education program offering courses and events for surgeons at all career stages.

• Passion Chirurgie

  Monthly member magazine, also available as an e-magazine.

• Young Surgeons Club (YSC)

  Initiative for junior surgeons, offering resources such as exam preparation and a PJ guide.

• BDC-Starterpaket

  A discounted continuing education package for surgeons in training.

• Wolfgang-Müller-Osten-Medaille

  The association's highest professional honor, awarded since 1997.

1. 1Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie e.V. – Official Websitebdc.de
2. 2Geschichte – BDC|Onlinebdc.de
3. 3Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgen – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org