Dirk Burghaus, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sportklinik Hellersen, and Stefan Klett, President of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Federation (Landessportbund NRW) and Sporthilfe NRW e. V.—the clinic’s sponsoring organization—unveiled the new History Wall in the entrance hall of Building 1 during a ceremony.
80 years closely tied to Ssports:
From sports hospital to highly specialized clinic
The 80th anniversary is an opportunity for the specialized clinic for orthopedics, Trauma Surgery, Sports Medicine, and Joint Replacement, is an occasion to look back on its development and, at the same time, to highlight what defines it to this day: its close connection to sports, medical specialization, and, above all, the people behind the clinic.
A highlight of the anniversary celebration was the ceremonial unveiling of the new History Wall by Dirk Burghaus, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sportklinik Hellersen, and Stefan Klett, President of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Federation and of Sporthilfe NRW e. V., the clinic’s sponsoring organization. In the entrance hall of Building 1, a chronicle displayed on large-format panels now invites visitors to discover the clinic’s history across a total length of four meters. It traces the clinic’s journey from its early days treating sports injuries to today’s highly specialized clinic, highlighting historical events, medical milestones, and its close connection to sports.
Ceremonial Unveiling of the History Wall“The fact that
we are now one of the five largest specialized orthopedic clinics in Germany with international renown is more than just the result of a good strategy. It takes people who support this clinic every day with their knowledge, experience, and personal dedication, and who bring to life our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients. The History Wall also illustrates that behind the milestones of the past 80 years are people whose decisions paved the way for new possibilities and shaped the development of the Sportklinik Hellersen across generations,” said Dirk Burghaus at the ceremonial opening.
Stefan Klett also emphasized in his anniversary speech just how closely the history of the Sportklinik Hellersen is linked to organized sports. “This connection endures to this day and is of great significance for sports in North Rhine-Westphalia. For generations, athletes from recreational, competitive, and elite sports have received medical care here. Later, this group included prominent sports figures such as Ottmar Hitzfeld and Michael Schumacher, to name just two,” said Stefan Klett. At the same time, he underscored the importance of organized sports in North Rhine-Westphalia: “The North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Federation today represents approximately 17,200 sports clubs with more than 5.6 million members. And we’re proud to have ‘our sports clinic’ here in Lüdenscheid.”
Sportklinik Hellersen presents new promotional Video
In addition to looking back at the past, Sportklinik Hellersen is also focusing on its present and future. It is showcasing itself and its medical work with a new promotional video. The film, which was also shown for the first time on the anniversary, complements the historical retrospective with a current look at the clinic and showcases what the Sportklinik Hellersen stands for today: highly specialized medicine, modern treatment options, and a team that is committed every day to providing the best possible care for its patients.
Dirk Burghaus, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Sportklinik Hellersen, with brothers Dr. Jürgen Hagenah, Head of Anesthesiology at the Outpatient Surgical Center (center), and Dr. Joachim Hagenah, Senior Expert in Endoprosthetics. Both have played a key role in shaping the development of the Sportklinik Hellersen over many years as chief physicians.
“80 Years – 80 Faces”: People Shape HistoryThe “80 Years – 80 Faces” campaign also demonstrates that the history of a clinic cannot be told solely through dates, buildings, or medical milestones. To mark the anniversary, the Sportklinik Hellersen featured 80 employees with personal insights and quotes on its social media channels as well as in the anniversary edition of the clinic’s magazine, “Hellersen Insight.” The 80 faces represent the many people who shape the clinic with their experience, dedication, and personality.
The campaign is now being turned into a gallery series in the hallways of the Sportklinik Hellersen. Dirk Burghaus and Stefan Klett kick off the series with their portraits and personal quotes. In the coming weeks, the gallery will be gradually expanded to include additional employees. In this way, the people who shape Sportklinik Hellersen will also be visible in the clinic’s day-to-day operations. The anniversary issue of the clinic’s magazine, “Hellersen Insight,” which was published on the anniversary, is also dedicated to the history and development of the Sportklinik Hellersen. It takes readers on a journey through eight decades, combining historical insights with personal perspectives on the clinic.
With the History Wall, the new promotional video, the anniversary issue of the clinic magazine, and the gallery “80 Years – 80 Faces,” the Sportklinik Hellersen has used its 80th anniversary to showcase its history while also providing a platform for the people who have shaped it, both then and now.
When Building 1 opened in 1970, the Hellersen Sports Hospital was considered Europe’s most modern hospital for sports injuries.
The History of the Sportklinik Hellersen – The Beginning of a Success Story
It all began on October 16, 1946, with the treatment of the first two athletes. The origins of the Sportklinik Hellersen thus lie directly in organized sports. After World War II, club sports needed their own means of providing medical care for injured athletes. Sporthilfe NRW, which was still in the process of being established at the time, initially provided 20 beds at what was then the district hospital in Lüdenscheid and offered financial support to the athletes, since insurance companies did not yet cover the costs of sports-related injuries. This led to the creation of a facility with a clear goal: to provide medical care for injured athletes and get them back on their feet and back to their sports as quickly as possible.
It soon became clear just how great the need was. The hospital’s strong reputation for treating sports injuries—as the clinic was known at the time—and the steadily growing influx of patients meant that the existing facilities were too small. Sporthilfe NRW therefore decided to build its own hospital, which opened on May 29, 1970. Among the guests were prominent athletes, representatives of organized sports, and numerous guests from the worlds of politics and society.
A defining figure of this era was Willi Weyer. The long-time president of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Federation and later chairman of Sporthilfe NRW was instrumental in the development of the facility. At the opening of the new building, he was present in his capacity as Minister of the Interior of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and described the clinic as “an institution of international renown of which we are proud.” The Sportklinik Hellersen thus became a leading center for the treatment of sports injuries and an important component of medical care in sports.
Some of the staff in front of the new building from 1970 at Paulmannshöher Straße 17.
An Examination Center
Accredited by the DOSB and LSB-NRW
from the Very Beginning The connection to sports remained a key part of the clinic’s development in the decades that followed. In 1997, the Department of Sports Medicine was founded. With this, the Sportklinik Hellersen took on a pioneering role in the field of prevention at an early stage. Just one year after its founding, the Sports Medicine Department was granted the status of a DOSB- and LSB-NRW-accredited examination center. The accreditation has been regularly renewed since then and is now valid through 2034. Since 1998, the department has also served as the center for sports medicine and performance physiology examinations of referees at the elite level. The department took on a special international assignment in 2006: In the run-up to the World Cup, FIFA commissioned Hellersen Sports Medicine to conduct sports medical examinations of the referees selected for the tournament from around the world.
Specialization as a Defining Principle
The turn of the millennium marked the beginning of a new phase in the clinic’s development. The medical departments increasingly specialized in specific body regions and clinical conditions. The departments for shoulder, elbow, and knee; knee surgery and sports traumatology; foot and ankle surgery; as well as the Center for Joint Replacement and Spine Medicine were established. Today, the Sportklinik Hellersen stands for highly specialized orthopedic and trauma surgery, modern technology, and continuous advancement. A visible symbol of this is the Robotics Center for Endoprosthetics, which opened in 2024. With robot-assisted surgery, the Sportklinik Hellersen is embracing new possibilities for even more precise and personalized treatment. What began as a spinal unit has also evolved into today’s German Spine and Scoliosis Center, comprising three highly specialized departments that together cover the entire spectrum of spinal care. This structure is virtually unique in its form. Pain medicine, whose roots date back to the 1980s, has also been continuously refined and is now established as the Center for Specialized Pain Medicine. Here, the clinic helps people who have already been deemed “beyond treatment” elsewhere.
Today: Highly Specialized and Internationally Networked
The clinic’s medical quality and innovative strength are recognized far beyond the region. The F.A.Z. Institute ranks the Sportklinik Hellersen among Germany’s leading orthopedic clinics. FOCUS Gesundheit has also honored the clinic and its medical departments on multiple occasions. In 2026, the Sportklinik Hellersen received awards in areas including hip surgery, sports medicine and orthopedics, spinal surgery, and international patient care. Furthermore, the specialty clinic ranks among the TOP 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany.
The Sportklinik Hellersen has also made a name for itself internationally. At the 77th Annual Congress of the Egyptian Orthopedic Association in Cairo, it participated as an international partner at the invitation of the organizers and, for the first time in the congress’s history, broadcast live surgeries from a German clinic to Cairo. Shortly thereafter, Sportklinik Hellersen became the first hospital worldwide outside the Arab states to receive certification from the Arab Board of Health Specializations. This enabled it to train not only German specialists but also Arab specialists in orthopedics and trauma surgery.
What began in 1946 with 20 beds and a vision for providing medical care to athletes is today a highly specialized clinic that continues to build on its history through innovation, specialization, and international exchange.
Image credit: All photos on this website, including graphics: © Sportklinik Hellersen
Press Contact
Sarah Burghaus
, Head of Marketing, PR & Customer Service, Press Spokesperson
sarah.burghaus@hellersen.de
Marketing & PR
marketing@hellersen.de
