In Memoriam: Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Hinkelbein
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Hinkelbein, DESA, EDIC, FAsMA – Grounded, Humble, Visionary, Physician and Human Being
By Bernd W. Böttiger, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Germany
On the afternoon of the second day of spring, in the most beautiful weather, a tragic accident occurred that deeply saddened and affected many in Germany, across Europe, and around the world. A six-seat Beechcraft Bonanza took off from the Hangelar airfield near Sankt Augustin, close to Bonn. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot—University Professor Dr. med. Jochen Hinkelbein—reported engine problems. He was on board with his six-year-old daughter. A short time later, the aircraft crashed into a field near the airfield and burst into flames. The volunteer fire brigade from Sankt Augustin arrived within minutes and quickly extinguished the fire. But for 51-year-old Jochen Hinkelbein, the help came too late. His daughter, suffering severe burns, managed to escape the wreckage with help from a passerby, who also sustained burns.
Shortly thereafter, three rescue helicopters arrived at the scene. One of them, “Christoph Rheinland,” came from Cologne—where Jochen Hinkelbein had flown for many years as an emergency physician. The press at his last place of work, the University Hospital in Minden, wrote:
“With him, science has lost an outstanding figure who significantly shaped aerospace medicine. The hospital landscape has lost a committed doctor, researcher, and academic teacher.”
Born on February 13, 1974, in Germersheim, Hinkelbein studied medicine in Heidelberg after completing secondary school. From 2001 to 2010, he worked at the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care at the University Hospital Mannheim, first under Professor Klaus van Ackern and later Professor Manfred Thiel. He started as a medical intern and became a senior physician in 2008. He completed his habilitation in 2010 with a thesis on the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced organ dysfunctions—including septic encephalopathy, septic cardiomyopathy, and septic liver failure—much of which was carried out at Heidelberg’s Institute of Physiology I under Professor Kuschinsky.
From January 1, 2010, until his appointment as full professor in 2023, Hinkelbein worked at the Department of Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care at the University Hospital of Cologne, becoming managing senior physician in 2012 and one of the department’s key leaders. Already highly experienced in emergency medicine and pediatric anesthesia when he arrived, he quickly adapted to the department’s structures and culture. He played a crucial role in shaping clinical strategy, research, teaching, and patient care. Together, we significantly advanced trauma care, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the expansion of our ICU capacity. He also made lasting contributions in OR management and doctoral training, consistently demonstrating leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and motivational strength.
Hinkelbein obtained the European Diploma in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (DESA) in 2007 and the European Diploma in Intensive Care (EDIC) in 2012. He also held additional certifications, including in Clinical Acute and Emergency Medicine.
As senior physician in charge of emergency medicine from 2010, he established the European Trauma Course (ETC) in Cologne and initiated a collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), enabling our training lab to prepare all European astronauts for emergency scenarios aboard the ISS. He also worked with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on weightlessness research, including resuscitation techniques tested during parabolic flights. He continued to serve on the “Christoph Rheinland” intensive care helicopter, which flew to the crash site.
Hinkelbein earned great respect from colleagues in both operative and conservative specialties. He was instrumental in driving complex institutional changes and often worked late into the night on research, mentoring, and national or international projects. Yet he was always among the first to arrive at the hospital each morning. His tireless efforts also fostered close collaboration with the Cologne Fire Department and the central emergency department. He became an adjunct professor at the University of Cologne in 2015.
Scientifically, Hinkelbein was widely recognised for his work in emergency and aerospace medicine, including in-flight medical emergencies and strategies for long-duration space missions. His body of work includes numerous books and book chapters and 199 entries in Medline, many in leading journals. His 2024 paper was titled “A new scoring system to predict fatal accidents in General Aviation and to facilitate emergency control centre response.”
He chaired the ESAIC Subcommittee on Resuscitation, Emergency Medicine, and Trauma (2010–2016), contributed to ESAIC guidelines, and was active in the European Resuscitation Council and European Trauma Course Organisation. He served as president and later vice president of the German Society for Aerospace Medicine (DGLRM), held a Fellowship with the Aerospace Medical Association (FAsMA), and was president of the European Society of Aerospace Medicine (ESAM). He was also involved in the executive committee of the German Resuscitation Council (GRC).
As a teacher, Hinkelbein made a deep impact. He was appointed emergency medicine teaching coordinator and later director of medical education at our clinic. His lectures were consistently rated far above average, and he received multiple teaching and science awards.
He also contributed to many medical journals and served on the editorial board of Notfall + Rettungsmedizin. He co-edited thematic issues such as “Emergency Medicine in Extreme Conditions,” “Airway Management and Anesthesia in Emergency and Acute Care,” “Emergencies in Inaccessible Locations,” and “Guidelines – Standards – Recommendations.”
In 2023, he became Full Professor (W3) of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency, and Pain Medicine at the Johannes Wesling Hospital in Minden. In January 2025, he also took over as head of anesthesiology, intensive care, and pain therapy at Bad Oeynhausen Hospital and the Auguste Victoria Clinic. He quickly gained the respect and appreciation of staff and leadership at both institutions. When I spoke at the Bielefeld Anesthesiology Conference in February, he made a special effort to attend—we had a lovely evening with colleagues, discussing future projects. He was full of energy and ideas, with much still ahead of him.
Jochen Hinkelbein was held in the highest regard by national and international societies. He was a passionate physician, educator, and scientist. The press in Minden wrote:
“Professor Dr. Jochen Hinkelbein was an extraordinary person. He was curious, committed, courageous, and above all, humble and kind. A fine human being whose loss leaves a great void. His scientific work, his dedication to emergency medicine, and his passion for educating young physicians will live on.”
I believe everyone who knew Jochen Hinkelbein would wholeheartedly agree. He saved many lives and enriched countless others.
Since age 18, he was a passionate pilot—later a commercial pilot and flight instructor. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy. Many of us will miss him deeply. He will be sorely missed on the editorial board of our journal. We will remember him with great respect. Our thoughts are with his wife, children, family, friends, and all who loved and admired him.
Cologne, March 2025
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Bernd W. Böttiger
On behalf of the editorial board of Notfall + Rettungsmedizin
Link for the Article in German