University of Bern introduces endowed professorship in interdisciplinary rehabilitation

With CHF 7.75 million from the BRH Foundation, the University of Bern and Insel Gruppe have launched a professorship to innovate in rehabilitation.

The University of Bern, in collaboration with the Insel Gruppe and supported by the Foundation for Further Medical Treatment, Rehabilitation and Prevention BRH, has announced the establishment of an endowed Professorship for Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation. This initiative, fueled by a CHF 7.75 million endowment, aims to enhance teaching, research, and innovation in the field of rehabilitation, a critical area given the current demographic trends and the rise in chronic diseases.

Rehabilitation, which encompasses the restoration of physical and psychological capacities after illness, trauma, or surgery, is gaining importance not only for patient recovery but also for reintegration into social and working life. Recognizing its significance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prioritized rehabilitation as a key health strategy for the 21st century, advocating for its accessibility throughout all life stages. This interdisciplinary field, particularly when combined with sports and exercise medicine, presents significant potential for health promotion.

In the University’s press release, Christian Leumann, Rector of the University of Bern, emphasized the social relevance of integrating the academic field of rehabilitation into both research and teaching at the University and Bern University Hospital. The professorship is expected to foster cooperation across university centers and institutes, clinics, the Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine (sitem-insel), and external partners, including the Bern University of Applied Sciences. It also aims to academically bridge the Insel Gruppe’s medical field of rehabilitation and sports medicine with the university, promising a platform for innovation through interdisciplinary research and digital technologies such as tele-rehabilitation.

A significant advancement in the development and quality of clinical services and care in Bern

Supported by the BRH and the UniBE Foundation as an extraordinary professorship for 15 years, this initiative will be located within the Insel Gruppe’s medical field of rehabilitation and sports medicine, catering to a wide range of chronic illnesses and a large patient base.

Markus Meyer, Chairman of the BRH Foundation Board, expressed the foundation’s goal to evolve current clinical research and university teaching into a highly specialized area, enhancing the local, national, and international profile and appeal of interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Claudio Bassetti, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bern, anticipates the professorship will expedite the application of research findings, promote young researchers, and increase the proportion of female researchers in the field.

Scheduled for national and international advertisement, the appointment of the professorship is planned for spring 2025.