On October 1, 2023, the Department of Sport and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine will merge to form the new TUM School of Medicine and Health. Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz, previously Dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences and head of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics, is standing for election as Vice Dean for Talent Management and Diversity in the new TUM School. The Head of the Department Health and Sport Sciences will be taken over by Prof. Dr. Joachim Hermsdörfer, head of the Chair of Human Movement Science.
The Institute of Media and Communication met Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz for an interview in which she summed up her many years as Dean of Studies (2008-2017), Vice Dean (2017-2018), and Dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences (2018-2023).
Dear Prof. Oberhoffer-Fritz, you became Dean of Studies immediately after joining the Department in 2008. What were the most significant challenges?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "In my work as Dean of Studies, the initial period was certainly the greatest challenge because I held this office immediately after moving to this Department. The task was to transform the diploma program into a bachelor's program and then, in the further course, also to map the health sciences in study programs. Coming from a medical Department, where I was also deputy Dean of Studies but had to deal exclusively with medical degree programs, this was completely new territory for me. But it was a necessity that had to be done. Through this challenge, however, I also got to know the Department very well. Looking back, it was also fun to be creative."
In 2018 you were elected as Dean of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences. How were your early days as Dean?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "The Department was and is very heterogeneous. We have colleagues who do research in most diverse fields and who have very different ideas about what this Department should look like. In this respect, it was not easy initially to find a common thematic field, namely prevention, in which everyone could be represented in some form. I always chose a participatory approach, but in some cases, it was necessary to make your own decisions to implement something because of the time challenges."
How did you experience your time as Dean?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "The position of Dean has been very demanding for me in recent years. It was a great challenge, especially at the beginning. But it has also given me pleasure because I was able to make many things happen. I like to be a networker, so I was predestined for it. And, of course, I also learned a lot from the Department during this time."
What is the most memorable moment of your time as Dean?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "The inauguration ceremony of the TUM Campus at the Olympic Park in May 2022 was an absolute highlight because it allowed us to present who we are to the outside world. The visibility due to the new building is, of course, much greater now. We couldn't do that with the old buildings, slowly falling into disrepair."
What is the significance of the TUM Campus at the Olympic Park for the new TUM School of Medicine and Health?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "It is an adequate building that also acts preventively for us. Throughout the years of development towards the merger with medicine, there was always the concern some of the subject areas of our Department would have to be thrown overboard unnecessarily. However, the topic of sport for prevention in particular is now set."
What have been your greatest achievements as Dean?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "When I think about how non-communicative our corporate culture was when I took over, a certain culture of discussion and interdisciplinarity has developed during my tenure. You can also see that in the joint acquisition of third-party funding projects and the expansion of the Department's staff. During my time as Dean, we appointed eight new professors to further promote the topic of prevention. This includes establishing and expanding the Prevention Center, which was founded in 2017 and has gradually gained in importance. The visibility of our Department has also increased tremendously, especially through events such as the Future of Health Summit or the establishment of the CHAMPION Center."
What developments has the Department taken during your tenure?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "One of the developments was, in particular, the external presentation of our Department as a community, towards but also with the Faculty of Medicine. Another development was the acceptance of the topic of prevention and its implementation in research and teaching. This has been achieved during this time. The unifying element of prevention has arrived."
What were particular tasks, challenges, or difficulties merging with medicine?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "The biggest challenge was to bring the different scientific cultures together. That was a lengthy process. When I think of the first meetings, different ideas of cutting-edge medicine and basic research clashed with application-oriented research with social science components. It couldn't have been more different than these two opposites. None of the other schools has had to deal with such contrasts. It will also take a few more years to come even closer together. But the first steps have indeed been taken - also in the composition of the future governing body. Especially in communication, there have been enormous positive developments. Looking back, I am satisfied with the way things have gone."
You are up for election as Vice Dean for Diversity and Talent Management of the new TUM School of Medicine and Health - what are your goals and ideas for this position?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "I would place particular emphasis on talent management in this office. Promoting our students and our younger employees is the most important thing you have to do to be successful. Of course, diversity and gender are components that need to be considered. But I would rather keep an eye on the development of talent management. For me, talent management also includes the topic of appreciation and a positive working environment in order to retain employees in the long term. Our Academy for continuing and further education is also part of this because it's not just about developing academically, but also being prepared for the implementation area."
What are your priorities in this role?
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz: "We have people of very different colors in our future School. By this, I do not only mean (the characteristics of) male, female, and diverse, but also people with physical disabilities. We have to help them in their studies, in their training, and also in their academic careers. And vice versa, we as a School must also be active and visible in this area. It must be our primary task to be active in an inclusive way. For me, talent management also includes the topic of the health of our students and employees because only a sustainable good work-climate - and that includes the opportunity to stay healthy and fit - can also contribute to a company's success. That's why I would also integrate TUM4Health into the School."
Thank you very much for the interview!
To the homepage of the Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Renate Oberhoffer-Fritz
Chair of Preventive Pediatrics
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24574
e-mail: dekanat.sg(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photo: private