How can chemotherapy or radiotherapy be supplemented for cancer patients, how can their quality of life be improved - always on the basis of scientifically proven findings, without hocus-pocus. This is the field of work of oncologist Dr Jutta Hübner, who holds the professorship for Integrative Oncology at Jena University Hospital. At the suggestion of a patient, the doctor was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on 7 August in Erfurt for her special commitment, which goes far beyond her normal medical and scientific work.

After studying Medicine in Düsseldorf, Jutta Hübner completed her specialist training in Internal Medicine and specialised in the Division of Haematology and Oncology. She then worked as a head physician in several clinical departments before setting up a counselling network with the German Cancer Society and German Cancer Aid. She has been Professor of Integrative Oncology at Friedrich Schiller University Jena since 2017 and represents this subject in an outstanding way as part of scientific, evidence-based Medicine that prioritises patients with their perspective and life goals.

In addition to individual patient counselling at Jena University Hospital, Prof. Jutta Hübner established open consultations on integrative oncology together with the Thuringian Cancer Society. She coordinated the S3 guideline on complementary and alternative Medicine and, together with the German Cancer Society, developed a certificate training programme on integrative oncology for doctors, nursing staff and affiliates of other professional groups. As a member of the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association, she has provided advisory services to around 750 patients from all over Germany in the last five years alone.

Foundation established

Jutta Hübner set up her own foundation with a comprehensive knowledge portal and annually updated fact sheets for laypeople and professionals on integrative oncology. She developed a communication training programme for patients and affiliates as well as doctors and nursing staff and is involved in the training of medical students, particularly in the field of patient communication. In her work, Prof Hübner cooperates closely with cancer self-help organisations and has led several projects on healthcare research, the needs of people with cancer and people with a migration background in the German healthcare system.

"We congratulate Professor Jutta Hübner on this award and are delighted that her diverse activities in medicine, especially in oncology, her empathy and national visibility as a source of hope and encouragement for countless cancer patients and their affiliates have received well-deserved recognition," emphasises Prof. Dr Andreas Hochhaus, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine II at Jena University Hospital and Chair of the Thuringian Cancer Society.