Obituary for Prof. Dr. med. habil. Winfried Burkert

The German Society for Neurosurgery (DGNC) mourns the loss of Prof. Dr. med. habil. Winfried Burkert, who passed away on February 12, 2025 in Halle (Saale), Germany. With his passing, the field of neurosurgery loses an outstanding physician, scientist, and academic who played a key role in shaping the development of neurosurgery in Germany.

Prof. Burkert was born on April 28, 1939 in Pirna, Saxony, Germany, where he grew up and completed his school education with the Abitur. He studied medicine from 1958 to 1964 at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). In 1965, he began his medical career at the university hospital's Department of Surgery, in the neurosurgical division. He obtained his board certification in neurosurgery in 1971 and subsequently held various senior positions in the department. From 1980 to 1992, he served as Senior Consultant and Deputy Head, and in 1992 he was appointed Acting Director. On February 16, 1994, he was appointed C4 Professor and Director of the Department and Clinic for Neurosurgery at MLU, a position he held until his retirement on June 30, 2006. During this time, he oversaw the relocation of the department to its new premises in 2003, successfully integrating it into the university hospital's modern structure.

Alongside his clinical work, Prof. Burkert was actively involved in numerous committees and scientific organizations. He was a long-standing member of the Faculty Council of MLU's Medical Faculty, a member of the university hospital committee, and served on the extended board of the Professional Association of German Neurosurgeons, where he was Vice Chairman from 2000 onward.

In 2002, he served as congress president and host of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the DGNC in Halle.

His scientific research focused primarily on neurooncology, spinal neurosurgery, and neuromodulation. His habilitation thesis addressed the topic: “Temporal Progression of Post-Traumatic Brain Oedema after Ultrasound Exposure—Experimental Studies and Models on the Timing of Surgical Decompression and the Size of the Trepanation Area.” From this research, he published the widely recognized article “Decompressive Trepanation in Therapy-Refractory Brain Oedema” in Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie, the predecessor of the Journal of Neurolocial Surgery/Central Journal of Neurosurgery.

In total, he published 53 citable articles in renowned scientific journals, which were referenced in more than 1,500 subsequent publications. In addition to his research, he was a gifted lecturer, known for his vivid, engaging, and often humorous teaching style.

A special passion of him was the history of German neurosurgery. In this field, he authored several publications and was both author and editor of the book “The Surgeon Friedrich Gustav von Bramann: The Rescuer of the Crown Prince,” which was released 2009.

However, his impact extended far beyond medicine and science. His personality was characterized by dedication, integrity, and honesty, combined with a strong sense of justice. His opinions carried weight, and when he was convinced of a cause, he pursued it with tireless energy and deep conviction. Especially during the time of the German Democratic Republic, this was not always met with universal approval.

He was a neurosurgeon through and through, dedicating himself wholeheartedly, as he often emphasized, “to his patients and his department.” His focus was always on their well-being, as well as that of his colleagues and staff. He continuously supported the training of young doctors, enabling them to gain experience in hospitals both in Germany and abroad and assisting them in their professional development. Under his mentorship, three doctors completed their habilitation in the 1990s.

His legacy is closely linked to the development and unification of neurosurgery in East and West Germany following reunification. As the first full professor of neurosurgery at MLU after the reunification, he saw it as his mission to reunite the neurosurgical societies in Germany and played a key role in this process.

With the passing of Prof. Winfried Burkert, neurosurgery has lost an exceptional physician, scientist, and teacher. We remember him with the utmost respect and honor his memory. Our deepest condolences go to his wife, Doris, his two daughters, and their families.

Prof. Dr. Volkmar Heidecke

Institut für medizinsche Gutachten & Beratung

Lettenbachstraße 31

86420 Diedorf, Germany

e-mail: [e-mail]

Prof. Dr. Nikolai G. Rainov

Medizinische Versorgungszentren Praxisklinik Dr. Schneiderhan & Kollegen

Eschenstraße 2

82024 Taufkirchen, Germany

Publication History

Article published online:
22 May 2025