Dr. med. Dr. h.c.
Josef Schuster
Central Council of Jews in Germany
Christian Thiel/Deutscher Ethikrat
“It is important to me that the Ethics Council also considers Jewish ethics, which can enrich our discussions. In addition, as a former member of the Central Ethics Commission at the German Medical Association and after decades as a practising internist, I would like to contribute my experience from medical ethics debates as well as the practitioner's perspective. The questions and issues involved that move people should play a role in the German Ethics Council.”
Focus of the commitment in the German Ethics Council
- Medical ethics
- Ethical questions from a Jewish perspective
Professional background
- Until 2020 Internist with medical practice in Würzburg
- 1980 PhD as Dr. med.
- 1973–1979 Studies of medicine at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Memberships
- Since 2020 Member of the German Ethics Council
- Since 2014 President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
- Since 2014 Vice President of the World Jewish Congress
- Since 2014 Vice President of the European Jewish Congress
- Since 2002 President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Bavaria (Landesverband Israelitischer Kultusgemeinden in Bayern)
- Since 1998 President of the Jewish Communities in Würzburg and Lower Franconia
Distinctions
- 2024 Honorary Doctorate from the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg
- 2021 Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 2021 German Cultural Policy Award of the German Cultural Council
- 2010 Bavarian Order of Merit
- 2006 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 2013 Bavarian Constitutional Medal in Gold