Current dissertations

Institute of History, Ethics and Philosophy of Medicine

Doctoral candidate

Anna Linnemann

Working title of the dissertation

The development of the German Society for Nuclear Medicine from 1963 to 1990

Abstract

Nuclear medicine is still a relatively young specialty, which only emerged in the 20th century. Nuclear medicine uses radioactive substances to visualize metabolic processes in the human body and is used in diagnostics and therapy. Previous advances in nuclear physics, radiochemistry/pharmacy and equipment/measurement technology were important prerequisites for the development of the discipline. A professional development took place worldwide and in Germany. These innovations were mostly driven by committed medical pioneers - at Hannover Medical School, for example, by Prof. Hundeshagen. As nuclear medicine continued to expand and develop, important organizational structures such as specialist societies and regional societies emerged in parallel.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin e.V. (German Society for Nuclear Medicine) was founded as a scientific society for the promotion of nuclear medicine; the first annual conference took place in Freiburg in 1963 under the chairmanship of Prof. Heilmeyer. In addition to the annual conference and the publication of the scientific journal "Nuklearmedizin" (Schattauer Verlag), the society is also active in many other areas, such as further education and training and the promotion of young scientists.

This doctoral thesis will primarily deal with the formation of the German Society of Nuclear Medicine and its development in the first few years. By means of literature research, evaluation of the specialist journal "Nuklearmedizin" and reports from contemporary witnesses, the formation and development of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin e.V. will be researched and documented in the context of the development of nuclear medicine. The aim of the doctoral thesis is to analyze this interesting period of time, evaluate contemporary witnesses and document the development of the professional society. Previous research includes the development of a questionnaire for the structured evaluation of information regarding the development of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin e.V., interviews with contemporary witnesses and an inspection of the archives of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nuklearmedizin e.V..