The hospital was inaugurated in 1969 and was the first anthroposophically oriented hospital in Germany. One of the main founders of the hospital was [[Gerhard Kienle]] (1923-1983).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal| issue = 49| pages = 100–103| title = KRANKENHÄUSER / HERDECKE: Trick mit Trapez| journal = Der Spiegel| date = 1969|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-45317809.html|last=|first=|volume=|via=|trans-title=KRANKENHÄUSER / HERDECKE: Trick with trapeze|language=de|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> A main motive in the social design of the founding period was flat hierarchies without chief physicians and head nurses.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book| isbn = 978-3-00-065299-8| last1 = Gemeinschaftskrankenhäuser| first1 = Verein| last2 = Kleinrath| first2 = Ulli| last3 = Koch| first3 = Sonja| last4 = Rechenberg| first4 = Thomas| last5 = Berger| first5 = Bettina| title = 50 Jahre Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke - Ein Impuls schreibt Geschichte| date = 2019-12-16|trans-title=50 years of Herdecke Community Hospital - An impulse makes history|language=de}}</ref> Kienle intended to create a university in relation to the hospital. This led to the [[Wikipedia:Witten/Herdecke University|University of Witten/Herdecke]].
+
The hospital was inaugurated in 1969 and was the first anthroposophically oriented hospital in Germany. One of the main founders of the hospital was [[Gerhard Kienle]] (1923-1983).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal| issue = 49| pages = 100–103| title = KRANKENHÄUSER / HERDECKE: Trick mit Trapez| journal = Der Spiegel| date = 1969|url=https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-45317809.html|last=|first=|volume=|via=|trans-title=KRANKENHÄUSER / HERDECKE: Trick with trapeze|language=de|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> A main motive in the social design of the founding period was flat hierarchies without chief physicians and head nurses.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book| isbn = 978-3-00-065299-8| last1 = Gemeinschaftskrankenhäuser| first1 = Verein| last2 = Kleinrath| first2 = Ulli| last3 = Koch| first3 = Sonja| last4 = Rechenberg| first4 = Thomas| last5 = Berger| first5 = Bettina| title = 50 Jahre Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke - Ein Impuls schreibt Geschichte| date = 2019-12-16|trans-title=50 years of Herdecke Community Hospital - An impulse makes history|language=de}}</ref> Kienle intended to create a university in association with the hospital. This led to the founding of [[Wikipedia:Witten/Herdecke University|Witten/Herdecke University]].
+
+
== Research and education ==
+
The hospital hosts five integrative medical professorships/chairs:
* Quality of life/spirituality/coping ([[Arndt Büssing]])
+
* Education, Training and Continuing Education in Anthroposophic Medicine ([[Friedrich Edelhäuser]])
+
* [[Gerhard Kienle Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine at Witten/Herdecke University|Gerhard Kienle Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine]] ([[David Martin]])
+
+
For medical students of Witten/Herdecke University there is an [[Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine (ICURAM)]]<ref>{{Cite web| title = Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine (ICURAM) in GERiT {{!}} DFG| accessdate = 2022-01-14| url = https://gerit.org/en/institutiondetail/451876308}}</ref>. A similar program exists for students of psychology [Integrated Companion Program in Spiritual and Anthroposophical Psychology (IBAP)].<ref>{{Cite web| title = IBAP: Integriertes Begleitstudium Anthroposophische Psychologie| accessdate = 2022-01-14| url = https://ibap.uni-wh.de/en/|date=|access-date=|website=|last=|first=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=live|trans-title=Integrated Companion Program in Anthroposophical Psychology (IBAP)|language=de}}</ref>