Stephan Zipfel

Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Zipfel is a Professor and Head of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen. His primary affiliation is within the Faculty of Medicine, specializing in psychosomatic disorders, eating disorders, and gerontology. He leads the HELP (Helping the Elderly to enjoy Long complete lives) initiative, focusing on geriatric science research and societal engagement.

His research spans clinical and translational studies in psychosomatic medicine, with a focus on eating disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder), psycho-oncology, and mental health interventions. He is involved in the KOMET Eating Disorder Center, advancing clinical care, research, and prevention. His work integrates basic science findings into patient care, emphasizing translational approaches.

Prof. Zipfel oversees teaching programs in psychosomatic medicine, including clinical training for medical students, psychologists, and midwives. He promotes clinician-scientist training, offering structured doctoral programs and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities. His department also provides specialized courses like the 80-hour 'Psychosomatic Basic Care' program for physicians.

Key projects include the STARKIDS study (pediatric obesity prevention) and the TWINCORD-EDID study exploring genetic and environmental factors in eating disorders. He advocates for academic freedom and interdisciplinary research, addressing societal challenges like demographic change and mental health disparities.