Andreas-Holger Maehle

Professor Andreas-Holger Maehle is Professor of History of Medicine and Medical Ethics in the Department of Philosophy at Durham University, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and holds affiliations with Durham CELLS (Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences), the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, and the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. He has been a faculty member since 1994, serving as Director of the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease from 2001 to 2023.

His educational background includes:

• Medicine studies at University of Bonn (1976-1983)
• Dr. med. from University of Bonn (1983)
• Habilitation in History of Medicine at University of Göttingen (1990)
• Ph.D. from University College London (1996)

Maehle's research centers on ethical issues in medical history, with deep expertise in the history of pharmacology, psychoanalysis, and stem cell research. His work examines German and British medical ethics across centuries, analyzing conflicts between professional honor, legal obligations, and patient confidentiality. Current projects include Freud's Berlin Rival: Albert Moll and his Psychology, exploring early psychoanalytic debates.

Analysis of his 25+ publications since 2002 reveals consistent focus on medical confidentiality evolution, receptor theory development, and ethical frameworks in clinical practice. His scholarship bridges 17th-21st century contexts, emphasizing Anglo-German comparative perspectives and conceptual shifts in pharmacology and psychotherapy. Recurring themes include the tension between medical professionalism and legal demands, with significant contributions to understanding historical roots of modern bioethics.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (2018)

Maehle secured major research funding as a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow (1991-1994) and University Award Holder (1994-1996). He served on editorial boards for Medical History and Notes and Records, and advised Gesnerus until 2020. As Director of Undergraduate Studies, he shapes philosophy curriculum while maintaining active office hours for student mentorship. His leadership in the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease (2001-2023) fostered interdisciplinary collaborations across Durham's ethics and life sciences institutes.