Albert Fraenkel

The Albert-Fraenkel-Plakette (Albert Fraenkel award) is given to German-speaking cardiologists who have excelled in the field.

Born in 1864 in Mußbach an der Weinstraße, Albert was the son of a Jewish merchant.

He initially practiced internal medicine and obstetrics, but turned to studying diseases of the lungs after suffering from tuberculosis.

Fraenkel also first used g-Strophanthin (ouabain) in heart failure, a practice which continues to be advocated by some practitioners in Germany.

He was stripped of his position as professor at Heidelberg in 1933 and his license to practice medicine was revoked in 1938, three months before his death.

Bust of Albert Fraenkel by Helmut Heinze , Heidelberg 2004.
His grave in Heidelberg