The Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg is one of the largest and most famous medical centers in Germany. It is closely linked to the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg, the oldest medical school in Germany, which was founded in 1388.
The Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg are actually made up of 12 hospitals, most of which are located on the new campus (Universität Heidelberg), about 10 minutes drive from the old town.
Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg supplies approximately 700,000 patients each year. It is known for cancer treating. The latest innovation in the care of cancer patients is a base in cooperation with the the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The goal of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) is the interdisciplinary collaboration between various clinical and basic science disciplines and the rapid implementation of innovative treatment procedures. A good example of Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg's leading position in innovative cancer research and treatment is HIT (Heavy Ion Therapy).
Medical Faculty of Heidelberg is one of Germany's most active biomedical research centers. It has closely links with university hospitals and different research institutions in Heidelberg, such as the German Cancer Research Center, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. Medical Faculty of Heidelberg is the most competitive medical school and the most difficult one to access in German with an admission rate of 3.6% (2008).
