02/07/2026 OTWorld

A strong duo for the future of orthopaedic treatment and care: Prof. Christoph Lohmann and Thomas Mitzenheim to chair the OTWorld World Congress 2028

How can people who rely on braces, compression therapy, orthoses, prostheses, wheelchairs and other medical aids receive even better orthopaedic treatment and care in the future? This is the question that Prof. Dr med. habil. Christoph Lohmann and Master Prosthetist, Orthotist and Bandagist Thomas Mitzenheim will address as Congress Presidents of the OTWorld World Congress 2028. Together with the Programme and Workshop Committee, they will shape the international congress programme of OTWorld, the world's leading event combining the World Congress and International Trade Show, which will take place in Leipzig from 16 to 19 May 2028.

The focus will be on treatment and care concepts that further enhance participation, independence and mobility by bringing together medical expertise and scientific evidence, technological innovation and the individual needs of people – from braces and compression treatment to orthoses, prostheses, modern wheelchair solutions and rehabilitation technology.

New procedures, digital processes and intelligent systems are opening up new possibilities. Yet one principle remains unchanged: how they support people in everyday life is what truly matters. People set the pace. Technology follows.

Bringing together medicine, skilled trades and clinical practice

With Prof. Dr med. habil. Christoph Lohmann and Thomas Mitzenheim, the World Congress will be led by a duo representing medicine, prosthetics and orthotics, and clinical practice in equal measure.

Prof. Dr med. habil. Christoph Lohmann is one of Germany's leading orthopaedic surgeons. In 2025, he served as President of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU) and the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC). He currently serves as First Vice President of both professional societies. Since 2010, he has been Director of the University Department of Orthopaedics at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.

A native of Göttingen, he studied both medicine and agricultural sciences at the University of Göttingen and gained international research experience at the Universities of Florida and Texas, among others. Following positions at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, where he worked first as Senior Consultant and later as Deputy Director of the Department, he took over the leadership of the University Department of Orthopaedics in Magdeburg in 2010. His clinical expertise includes specialist orthopaedic surgery, rheumatological orthopaedics, paediatric orthopaedics and physical medicine.

"Serving as Congress President of OTWorld is a great honour for me. It offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of orthopaedics and prosthetics and orthotics. At the same time, it provides a platform to inspire new research, encourage young talent in prosthetics and orthotics and rehabilitation, and explore emerging technologies and trends that have the potential to transform patient care," says Congress President Prof. Christoph Lohmann.

"The presidency also enables me to address key issues that affect us all and to contribute to improving patient care. Above all, it is important to me to strengthen the voice of users and patients and place their needs at the centre of the discussion. I am already looking forward to working with inspiring speakers and outstanding representatives of prosthetics and orthotics to tackle the challenges of the future together."

Thomas Mitzenheim is a Master Prosthetist, Orthotist and Bandagist and Managing Director of Orthopädie- und Rehatechnik Dresden GmbH. A native of Leipzig, he has worked in prosthetics and orthotics for more than four decades. After qualifying as an orthopaedic mechanic, he went on to become a master craftsman, earn a business administration qualification in the skilled trades and complete a Bachelor's degree in Business Management.

His professional career has taken him from providing patient care at the company's headquarters and in hospitals, through leadership roles as team and department manager, to heading one of Germany's leading treatment and care providers.

In addition, Mitzenheim has long been committed to professional education and the continuous improvement of quality in orthopaedic treatment and care. He serves on the Executive Board of the Association for Continuing Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics (FOT) and is a founding and Executive Board or Advisory Board member of the Association for Quality Assurance in Upper Limb Prosthetics. He is also actively involved in the German Society for Interprofessional Orthopaedic Treatment and Care (DGIHV), among other organisations.

"Sharing the Congress Presidency with Prof. Lohmann is both an honour and a responsibility. Our aim is to bring together the rapid developments in medicine, the skilled trades and orthopaedic treatment and care within the congress programme. Scientific evidence and clinical studies are just as important as craftsmanship and industrial innovation," explains Congress President Thomas Mitzenheim.

"At OTWorld 2026, I had the opportunity to experience the excellent collaboration between Confairmed and BIV-OT. It is a pleasure to become part of this well-established team. Together, we will meet the challenges ahead with passion and creativity."

Every two years, OTWorld brings together the World Congress and the world-leading Trade Show in Leipzig. Professionals from medicine, the skilled trades, science and industry representing around 90 countries come together at OTWorld to advance orthopaedic treatment and care worldwide.