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The surgical department at the Sacred Heart Hospital relies on continuity: the succession at the top of general, visceral and minimally invasive surgery is determined from within its own ranks.
Fulda – As of June 1, 2026, Dr. Andreas Grimme took over the management of the specialist department for general, visceral and minimally invasive surgery at the Herz-Jesu-Hospital Fulda. He succeeds Dr. Christian Berkhoff, who has had a significant impact on the clinic as chief physician since 2010 and will continue to stay with the hospital operationally and organizationally as head of the hernia center, as the hospital reports.
Change in chief physician: Andreas Grimme takes over from Christian Berkhoff
Berkhoff, who comes from Frankfurt and studied medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, took over the management of general and visceral surgery at the Sacred Heart Hospital after his time as a senior physician at the Fulda Clinic. Under his leadership, the range of services was continuously expanded. Among other things, he established a certified hernia center and the Fulda reflux center and, in particular, continually developed minimally invasive surgery. His focus includes, among other things, the surgical treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, liver and thyroid as well as the entire spectrum of various hernia operations. According to the company, the department enjoys an excellent reputation in the region and beyond due to its high level of professional expertise.
“With Dr. Andreas Grimme as chief physician, we were able to fill the successor from within our own ranks. For us, this is a strong signal of consistency and quality,” emphasizes managing director Michael Sammet. “He is an extremely experienced surgeon, a great asset both professionally and personally, and has been a fixture in our company for many years. I am convinced that he will further strengthen the successful development and reputation of our hospital and the specialist department.”
Grimme has known the hospital and department for many years. He has been working in a close-knit trio with Berkhoff and senior physician Christian Ueberholz for 14 years. After studying medicine and completing his doctorate at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, he began his clinical career in Fulda, completed his specialist training there, worked as a senior physician for many years and specialized in visceral surgery. He has been part of the team at the Sacred Heart Hospital since 2012. Today he is a specialist in surgery, special visceral surgery and minimally invasive surgery, as well as a nutritional doctor and proctologist. A particular focus of his work – similar to his predecessor – is on the entire spectrum of general, visceral and minimally invasive surgery. These include modern minimally invasive procedures (“keyhole technique”), thyroid surgery and interventions for reflux diseases.
“I am very happy about the trust and my new task,” Grimme is quoted as saying. His aim is for patients to feel comfortable and in good hands at all times before, during and after an operation. According to Grimme, he is taking over an “excellently positioned department with a strong, trusted team” and wants to continue this successful path together.
In addition to his work at the hospital, Grimme has been volunteering for years on humanitarian missions abroad in Africa and the Philippines. Together with international aid organizations, he supports people who would otherwise not have access to necessary operations and medical care.
Berkhoff sees the department in good hands
Berkhoff says he looks back on his time at the Sacred Heart Hospital with great gratitude and sees the future of the department in good hands. He emphasizes that it was always important to him to combine excellent medicine with care and humanity. He is pleased that Grimme, a long-standing, competent colleague, who shares these values and with whom he has worked successfully for years, is taking over.
Together with the medical team, nursing and all other employees, general, visceral and minimally invasive surgery at the Sacred Heart Hospital remains broadly based, according to the statement. In the event of an emergency, surgical care is provided around the clock in the emergency room. The change at the top is seamless and without a break in the professional focus.
From the chief physicians to the next generation of doctors: This Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus is also one of the sponsors of the Fulda scholarship. Two new scholarship recipients were recently introduced.
