• 1987 Dissertation on the topic "The adenylyl cyclase system in acute myocardial ischemia: Mechanism of sensitization of adenylyl cyclase" with Prof. Dr. med. Ruth H. Strasser, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Internal Medicine / Cardiology (Head: Prof. Dr. med. W. Kübler) (until 1991)
• 1993 Award of the doctoral degree by the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (grade: magna cum laude)
• 1995 DFG postdoctoral fellow (DFG Br 1603/1) (until 1998)
• 1995 Stanford University, Falk Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Cardiology, Stanford University, Stanford, USA (Chief Physician: Prof. Dr. Victor J. Dzau, who accepted a call to Harvard University the following year)
• 1996 Transfer to Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine (Chief Physician: Prof. Dr. Victor J. Dzau)
• 1997 Instructor of Medicine (employment by the Brigham and Women's Hospital as a scientific group leader) Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Medicine (Chief Physician: Prof. Dr. Victor J. Dzau)
• 1998 Head of the scientific working group "Molecular Cardiology" at the University Hospital Giessen, Center for Internal Medicine, Dept. Cardiology / Angiology (Head Physician: Prof. Dr. med. Harald Tillmanns) (until 2003)
• 2002 Habilitation in the field of internal medicine at the Justus-Liebig University Gießen on the topic: "The cell cycle in vascular medicine"
• 2003 Venia Legendi for the field of internal medicine
• 2003 Head of the scientific working group "Vascular Medicine" at the Medical Faculty of the Technical University of Dresden, Heart Center Dresden University Clinic (Medical Director: Prof. Dr. med. RH Strasser) (until 2008)
• 2003 Re-qualified from the Justus-Liebig University Gießen to the Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of the Technical University Dresden in the field of internal medicine
• Since 2008 Director of the Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology, and Pneumology at Magdeburg University Hospital

Awards

• 1990 Rudolf-Thauer Prize of the German Society for Cardiology for the work: "Activation of protein kinase C in acute myocardial ischemia: mechanism of receptor-independent sensitization of the adenylyl cyclase system"
• 2001 Poster prize of the German Society for Internal Intensive Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine for the work: "Protective effect of 3-deoxyadenosine on septic cardiomyopathy"
• 2006 Franz Maximilian Groedel Research Prize of the German Cardiac Society for the work: "Calpain counteracts mechanosensitive apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells"