Obituary Prof. Dr. Falk Oppel

Prof. Dr. Falk Oppel

The German Society of Neurosurgery and the Professional Association of German Neurosurgery mourn the death of Prof. Dr. Falk Oppel, who passed away on August 28, 2025, in Bielefeld. With him, German neurosurgery loses an outstanding physician.

Prof. Falk Oppel was born in Darmstadt in 1944. After studying human medicine, he began his training as a neurosurgeon at the Steglitz Clinic of the Free University of Berlin and was a senior physician at the neurosurgical department for many years, most recently under the direction of Prof. Mario Brock. He was a confident and committed surgeon; he was innovative and often ahead of his time. As early as the end of the 1970s, he published on endoscopic access to the cerebello-pontine angle. In 1983, he was appointed a full professor.

In 1986, he was elected chief physician of neurosurgery at the Gilead hospital in Bielefeld. In a short time, he succeeded in expanding the department into one of the largest neurosurgical clinics in Germany. A special focus was on the development of epilepsy surgery, which is still an established focus today. Until 1997, Prof. Oppel was chairman of the Working Group for Presurgical Epilepsy Diagnostics and Operative Epilepsy Therapy. A special concern of his was the training of foreign neurosurgeons. He operated in Brazil, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. In 2004, he was honored for this commitment with the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon.

Prof. Oppel was involved in both the BDNC and the DGNC. In 1994, he held the office of treasurer in the BDNC, from 1995 to 1997, the office of second chairman. Due to his great commitment to the professional association, he was nicknamed “Mister Berufsverband.” In 1997, he was elected second chairman, and in 1999, first chairman of the DGNC. In 2007, He became President of the German Academy of Neurosurgery, and in 2009, he retired. Even after his work as chief physician, he was first chairman of the Academy for Medical Training of the Westphalen-Lippe Medical Association for many years. Due to his extensive work abroad, he became an honorary member of the Neurosurgical Societies in Poland, Libya, and Thailand.

In addition to his pronounced professional commitment, Prof. Dr. Falk Oppel was also a bon vivant, was not averse to cigars and red wine, and captivated by his extensive general knowledge. With him, we lose a great person, a neurosurgeon and colleague who we will miss very much.

Publication History

Article published online:
24 October 2025