Strong GermaN HeaRTS*

In January, an extraordinary training course took place in the historic Langenbeck-Virchow-Haus in Berlin, where prospective cardiac surgeons trained together with special forces of the German Federal Police for the “daily emergency in the operating room”. The event, organized by the German Society for Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery (DGTHG) in cooperation with the Federal Police Directorate 11 (BPOLD 11), offered 16 participants from various cardiac centers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland the opportunity to experience their own resilience and performance over 36 hours. In addition to cardiac surgery skills, the main soft skills required were stamina, precision, determination and passion for the job.