Otto Werner
Encyclopedia
C. W. Otto Werner was a German
physician
, after whom Werner syndrome
(Werner's syndrome)—a form of progeria
—was named. As a medical student
in 1903, Werner observed the syndrome in four siblings near the age of 30. He documented his observations in his inaugural dissertation
in 1904.
Werner was born in Flensburg
, the son of a provincial councillor. He attended school in Kiel
and qualified to practice medicine at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
in 1904. He served as an army doctor with the Infantry Regiment at Holstein
and, in 1906, in Kiel, he married the daughter of a physician. He then began a rural medical practice based in Eddelak
, a small German town near the Danish
border. There he remained for the rest of his life, except for his service as a medical officer with the German Navy
during World War I
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, after whom Werner syndrome
Werner syndrome
Werner syndrome is a very rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the appearance of premature aging....
(Werner's syndrome)—a form of progeria
Progeria
Progeria is an extremely rare genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age. The word progeria comes from the Greek words "pro" , meaning "before", and "géras" , meaning "old age"...
—was named. As a medical student
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
in 1903, Werner observed the syndrome in four siblings near the age of 30. He documented his observations in his inaugural dissertation
Inaugural dissertation
An inaugural dissertation is a presentation of major work by a new professor or doctor, in writing and/or in public speech, to inaugurate their professorship or doctorship. This academic ritual is traditional in much of Europe , although it is becoming less common in some countries and institutions...
in 1904.
Werner was born in Flensburg
Flensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
, the son of a provincial councillor. He attended school in Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
and qualified to practice medicine at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
in 1904. He served as an army doctor with the Infantry Regiment at Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
and, in 1906, in Kiel, he married the daughter of a physician. He then began a rural medical practice based in Eddelak
Eddelak
Eddelak is a municipality in the district of Dithmarschen, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
, a small German town near the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
border. There he remained for the rest of his life, except for his service as a medical officer with the German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.