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The Medical Center – University of Freiburg’s AI podcast “Kurz und gesund” has been awarded the German PR Prize in the Health Communication category

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg received an award in the Health Communication category at the 2026 German PR Awards for its AI-powered podcast “Kurz und gesund” (Short and Healthy). Through this format, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg presents medical topics in an accessible and user-friendly manner. The award was presented on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Berlin.

“With ‘Kurz und gesund,’ we demonstrate how artificial intelligence can meaningfully support health communication. However, editorial and technical oversight by humans always remains crucial,” says Benjamin Waschow, Head of Corporate Communications at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “The award confirms our approach: AI provides speed and structure, while humans ensure precision, accountability, and clarity.”

Conveying health information clearly and efficiently

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg uses a specially trained AI agent for the podcast. It converts approved articles, interviews, or video transcripts into podcast scripts. Experienced editors then review the texts for technical accuracy and language quality. Original audio clips from physicians and researchers are integrated. 

The podcast is released weekly and covers patient-relevant topics from clinical practice, research, and prevention. These include heart health, nutrition, mental health, and cancer. Since its launch, it has garnered more than 60,000 views on popular platforms. More than 60 percent of listeners are over 45 years old, making them a key target group for health communication.

The German PR Award from the German Public Relations Society (DPRG) is the longest-standing and one of the most important German PR awards. It honors communication projects that have achieved an outstanding response through innovative solutions and have successfully managed that response.

Caption: For the second year in a row, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg has impressed the jury of the German PR Award with its communication work.
Image source: Medical Center – University of Freiburg