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Ordre national du Mérite for Prof. Dr. Hartmut Bürkle / Award for commitment to the treatment of French patients during the coronavirus pandemic

It is considered one of the highest orders in France and is only awarded to foreigners in rare cases: The Ordre national du Mérite, France's national order of merit. On Friday, May 20, 2022, Prof. Dr. Hartmut Bürkle, Medical Director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, was honored with this award. At the French Embassy in Berlin, he received the insignia of a Knight (Chevalier) in the French National Order of Merit from Ambassador Anne-Marie Descôtes. Bürkle was honored for his dedication and commitment to treating French patients at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg during the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 21, 2020, the first French patient with severe Covid-19 disease was flown to the Medical Center - University of Freiburg on the initiative of Brigitte Klinkert, then President of the Alsace Haut-Rhin Departmental Council, on the French side and Bürkle on the German side. "It was a matter close to the hearts of those responsible and the staff at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg to help our French neighbors and friends in this human tragedy," says Bürkle. This Freiburg initiative led to more than 130 admissions of French patients and over 120 transfers of critically ill Covid-19 patients to German intensive care units.

Bürkle emphasized that he accepted this honor on behalf of the employees of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, who have performed outstandingly during this pandemic. "On behalf of Baden-Württemberg, for the many committed people, for the support in the regional council, for the helpers in our region and our city and above all for our great employees at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, I am now deeply touched by the extraordinary honor from the French Republic and am very happy to accept the Ordre national du Mérite on behalf of our humanitarian helpers on both sides of the Rhine," he said in his acceptance speech.

Picture captions:
Image 1: Prof. Dr. Hartmut Bürkle holds his acceptance speech at the French Embassy in Berlin
Image 2: Ambassador Anne-Marie Descôtes (left) awards Prof. Dr. Hartmut Bürkle (right) the Ordre national du Mérite
Image rights: Ambassade de France en Allemagne