University Hospital Charité Berlin

University Hospital Charité Berlin is one of the most renowned medical institutions in Europe and the largest university hospital in Germany. Founded in 1710 by King Frederick I of Prussia, it initially served as a quarantine house during a plague outbreak and later evolved into a military hospital and training center for young doctors. The name “Charité,” meaning “charity,” was bestowed in 1727, symbolizing its mission of care and compassion. Over the course of more than 300 years, it has evolved into a world-class academic medical center, seamlessly integrating healthcare, research, and education across four campuses in Berlin. Today, Charité operates 17 medical centers comprising more than 100 specialized clinics and institutes, and it offers patients access to state-of-the-art treatments in almost every field of medicine. With more than 3,000 hospital beds, it is the largest university hospital in Germany in terms of capacity. Each year, approximately 130,000 inpatients and close to 700,000 outpatients receive treatment here, making it not only the busiest but also one of the most trusted medical institutions in the country. Patients from Germany and abroad benefit from cutting-edge diagnostics, highly specialized therapies, and individualized care provided by experienced multidisciplinary teams. Charité’s strength lies not only in its clinical services but also in its role as a leading center for medical education and training. The hospital is the joint medical faculty of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, preparing more than 9,000 students for careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing science, and public health. Since becoming the first German medical faculty accredited for study and teaching in 2015, Charité has continued to set national and international standards in medical education. Its integration of patient care, research, and teaching ensures that students and young doctors are trained in direct contact with clinical practice and the latest scientific discoveries. The hospital is equally distinguished in the field of biomedical research. In partnership with the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité is at the forefront of translational medicine, ensuring that new findings are rapidly transferred from the laboratory to patient care. It consistently ranks among the leading medical institutions worldwide for research in neuroscience, immunology, oncology, cardiovascular medicine, genetics, and rare diseases. Many Nobel Prize laureates in medicine and physiology, such as Robert Koch, Paul Ehrlich, and Emil von Behring, once worked at Charité, cementing its legacy as a birthplace of medical breakthroughs. International collaboration is another defining feature of Charité’s global impact. The hospital maintains partnerships with leading universities and medical schools worldwide, including Johns Hopkins University in the United States, Tongji Medical College in China, and Saitama Medical School in Japan. These collaborations foster innovation, knowledge exchange, and advanced clinical research, ensuring that Charité remains at the cutting edge of global medicine. For patients, Charité offers the full spectrum of medical specialties, from neurosurgery, cardiology, and oncology to gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology. It is a leader in advanced treatments, including proton therapy for eye tumors, complex cardiovascular surgery, and personalized cancer therapies. The hospital also runs specialized centers for perinatal medicine, trauma care, and reconstructive surgery, providing world-class expertise for both common and rare conditions. Equipped with high-tech devices and supported by multilingual staff, Charité is exceptionally well-prepared to serve international patients seeking advanced medical care. Charité’s rich history and continuous innovation make it a symbol of both tradition and progress in the field of medicine. Its combination of outstanding patient care, groundbreaking research, and rigorous education ensures its place as one of the most important medical institutions in Europe and beyond. For over three centuries, Charité has stood at the intersection of science and humanity, shaping the future of medicine while remaining true to its founding mission of healing and compassion.