The interdisciplinary elective tracks offer more freedom of choice and individual specialisation options in the degree programme. Every student from the fifth semester onwards can deepen their knowledge and skills in a freely chosen area of interest beyond the standardised subject matter in at least three semesters of two semester hours each. The elective tracks are completed with a graded examination.

The currently available elective tracks are briefly described below.

Movement and musculoskeletal system

In this elective subject area, scientific and humanistic aspects of movement are taught. In addition, the neurological aspects of movement restrictions, the mechanics of locomotion, but also the molecular mechanisms and surgical and technical boundary conditions for restoring the musculoskeletal system are discussed. The courses will also provide an outlook on new scientific approaches and therapeutic strategies.

Digital medicine

The elective track "Digital Medicine" is divided into two fields, "Digital Medicine" and "Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health". The focus is on teaching digital skills. It offers both the necessary insights for everyday clinical practice as well as knowledge that goes beyond this in order to be able contribute as a doctor and to help shape the digital transformation in the health care sector. It is expected that this will be of major importance for the daily practice of medicine in the future.

Global Health

The Global Health elective track focuses on understanding the global dimension of health problems and their causes, as well as on learning relevant research methods.

Heart, blood, metabolism: from a mechanism to future therapy

The elective track "Heart, Blood, Metabolism" is designed to teach you the basic molecular principles you need to understand the new developments in internal medicine. In addition to the teaching canon, clinically active experts will explain the current and future developments that you will encounter at the beginning of your clinical work in internal medicine and that you will have to shape in the future.

Immunology in research and clinical practice

The aim of this track is to demonstrate the integrative character of the subject of immunology and to familiarise interested students with the broad spectrum of scientific immunological activities in Heidelberg. In addition to basic aspects and the participation of various clinical departments (dermatology, paediatrics, rheumatology, nephrology, neurology), clinical immunological topics will be in focus in this track.

Interdisciplinary infectiology

Infectious diseases are still one of the most common causes of death worldwide. However, not all key infectiological topics can be comprehensively covered in the compulsory medical curriculum. The track aims at closing this gap. In addition to interdisciplinary clinical aspects (joint events with clinically experienced colleagues, case presentations), scientific aspects (e.g. new vaccination strategies, NGS, research seminars) are also brought into focus. Doctor-patient communication and the role of general medicine in the treatment of infectious diseases are also present in the course programme.

Interdisciplinary oncology

The purpose of the Interdisciplinary Oncology elective track is to introduce you to the exciting and in many ways challenging field of oncology at an early stage.

Its goal is to teach and discuss oncological principles of diagnostics and therapy and, in particular, multimodal therapy. An important aspect of this is the link to practice: the applicance of knowledge. Whether you will later become a general practitioner or a neurosurgeon: oncological expertise is a fundamental part of your daily work.

Modern surgery - innovation, research and technology

The focus of this elective track is the combination of minimally invasive surgery (MIS), research on teaching, bariatric surgery, plastic surgery and microsurgery.

Emergency medicine and intensive care

The Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care elective track aims to ensure and improve the quality of care for emergency patients. Through an interdisciplinary orientation with hands-on teaching events, your ability to act in a wide variety of emergency situations will be trained.

Organ-specific imaging

Imaging is an essential part of the diagnosis of diseases in almost all disciplines and in many cases also offers intervention options that significantly support therapy. It therefore represents a cross-sectional area that is an integral part of clinical routine.

Primary care

The "Primary Care" elective track aims for building bridges between science and community-based care for the population in GP practices. It offers an insight into various areas of primary care, be it the functioning of rural medical practices, business management basics for setting up your own practice, interprofessional complementary medicine or the scientific foundations of health services research.

Psychosocial medicine

The psychosocial elective tracl provides an overview of and interdisciplinary approach to mental illnesses and offers you the opportunity to work independently on various aspects of psychosocial medicine and to familiarise yourself with them in greater depth.