As. Prof. Jonas Herrmann, a graduate from the Second Faculty, heads the Berlin Urological Laser Center. He shares the path his career has taken.
After graduation, I applied for residency training in Germany in the Heidelberg-Mannheim area, where my girlfriend at the time (now my wife and the mother of our three children), who had graduated a year earlier from the Second Faculty, had received a job offer. She is now an excellent gynecologist.
I applied to several urology departments as well as to paediatric surgery and received two offers: one in urology at Theresienkrankenhaus Mannheim, a medium-sized hospital with a small but highly dedicated team, and one in paediatric surgery at Mannheim University Hospital. I ultimately chose urology, as it had always been my first choice, and I had a better impression of the team. I also felt that starting my training in a smaller hospital would be advantageous. To young doctors i would recoment to put emphasis on a good team beacause this is essential especially in the beginning.
During two years there, I received excellent clinical training, completed my doctoral thesis, and began small-scale clinical research within the German Society of Residents in Urology research group for endourology. Over time, I developed a growing interest in academic research and wanted to gain experience in a larger department. I therefore applied to transfer to the Department of Urology at Mannheim University Hospital, where I was fortunately offered a position.
I completed my residency at the university hospital and became an attending urologist shortly after my board examination. My clinical and scientific focus developed toward endourology and laser surgery, and in 2018 I became head of the Section of Endourology. I continued my research, completed my venia legendi in urology in 2024, and was appointed Associate Professor. Also in 2024, I had the opportunity to become Head of the Department of Endourology and Laser Surgery at Auguste Viktoria Klinikum in Berlin, the largest center for laser prostatectomy in Europe, where I currently work. In addition, I am active in the Endourology working group of the German Society of Urology, the Society of Endourology, and the Endourology Section of the European Association of Urology (EAU). I also continue to give lectures regularly at Heidelberg University.
Although I had to get to know the German medical system, I never felt I had a disadvantage. Looking back, I feel that living abroad and adapting to a different country while studying in an international community gave me greater flexibility and adaptability compared to many of my German colleagues. Furthermore, the strong emphasis on oral examinations and presentations during my training provided excellent preparation for a scientific career.
The way urology was taught in Prague strongly influenced my choice of specialty. I had previously considered general or paediatric surgery, but I was impressed by the versatility of urology, which combines medical management with a wide range of surgical approaches, including open, laparoscopic, and endoluminal procedures, as well as oncologic, reconstructive, and paediatric surgery. I felt the department led by Prof. Babjuk was well extremely organised and doctors were highly motivated and passionate about urology, wich reflected in their teaching.
Finally, the focus on paediatric medicine during my education continues to benefit my clinical work today, even though I am not specialised in paediatric urology.
Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Jonas Herrmann
