Dear Prof. Laxy, what was the decisive factor in your decision to move from the Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management at the Helmholtz Zentrum in Munich to the TUM?
“Several factors were important: On the one hand, the TU Munich is my alma mater, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Sports Science here at the faculty. Ever since, I have pursued an interdisciplinary academic career typical for the subject of public health. In this sense, the call for the the Associate Professorship in Public Health and Prevention appealed to me very much. In my position at the Helmholtz Center, I have already had the opportunity to work on exciting projects together with colleagues not only from the Department of Sport and Health Sciences, but also from the TUM School of Management and the TUM School of Medicine. I have also noticed that the Department has ambitious plans to develop the field of health sciences and become one of the leading universities in Europe. This overall package sounded very attractive to me, which is why I applied for the Professorship. Fortunately, this has now succeeded."
What does the appointment at the TU Munich mean to you?
“I grew up in southern Bavaria and, with the exception of my time abroad, have spent most of my academic training and professional career here in Munich. In this respect, it is really a great thing for me to have received the distinction for this subject area from TUM, one of the few universities of excellence in Germany."
What is your impression of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences so far?
“Due to the current situation, unfortunately I haven't been on campus very often. However, I did of course have the odd interaction with new colleagues in the course of the negotiations, the transfer of third-party funded projects, the furnishing of office space and the coordination of teaching. During this process I felt that there was a great willingness to be supportive, welcoming and help integrate my team and me. I was also overly impressed by everyone's professionalism and commitment, both administratively and academically."
What are you looking forward to most with regard to your work at the Department of Sport and Health Sciences?
“Since Public Health is a very interdisciplinary field, most of all, I am looking forward to advancing projects together with various colleagues from the different Chairs and Associate Professorships. Since I am coming from a research center, so far, teaching has only formed a small part of my responsibilities. So, now I am all the more pleased to get to know the students and to design and implement new learning modules. It is naturally also a great opportunity for me to be able to build up and shape the Associate Professorship from the outset, as well as to acquire staff and advance a strategy."
You have so far headed the research group 2 Economics and Management of Diabetes at the Helmholtz Center - will obesity, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes and cardiovascular secondary diseases also be your research focus here at the faculty?
“The field of non-communicable diseases will certainly continue to play an important role. We will also continue our internationally competitive diabetes research. However, I also intend to expand the research portfolio. For example, we currently run projects that deal with the direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. This area will certainly continue to occupy us in the coming months and years. Furthermore, we will focus our research on a number of future issues, such as the digitalization of our care and healthcare system. The evaluation of current measures that influence behaviour and health outside the health care system will also play an important role."
What topics will you focus on in terms of teaching?
“The specific coordination is still pending; I am currently still in exchange with the department in this respect. Public health and prevention are highly interdisciplinary areas. Essentially, the focus is on interventions and measures to improve health, taking into account efficiency considerations and distributional aspects. Therefore, students can look forward to new modules covering these areas. I also attach great importance to the teaching of methodological skills - especially in the field of evaluation."
And one last question: Do you do any sport yourself? And if so, which one?
“I am as passionate about sports as ever. In summer I mainly play volleyball and tennis, but I also go hiking a lot and am often out and about on my cyclocross or mountain bike. In winter I like to go skiing or ski touring, although cross-country skiing is also one of my hobbies. Well, in fact, the whole range. I also used to be a passionate football player."
Thank you for the interview!
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Michael Laxy
Associate Professorship for Public Health and Prevention
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
e-mail: michael.laxy(at)tum.de
Text/Interview: Romy Schwaiger
Photo: private