Statutes dated 16 May 1996 (with amendments dated 1 April 2014)

The Hofmann and Heermann Prize is awarded by the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery to otorhinolaryngologists who have rendered outstanding services to the further development of practical otorhinolaryngology. The award is primarily intended to honour the personality of the prizewinner and highlight their role model function. Friedrich Hofmann, a general practitioner and district physicist in Burgsteinfurt, invented the otoscope in 1841 and thus established the universal examination technique in the ear, nose and throat speciality. From the beginning of this century until 1996, Josef Heermann, Hans Heermann and Joachim Heermann made valuable contributions to the further development of surgical techniques for the nose, ear and lacrimal ducts in particular, as chief physicians of the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen. Hans Heermann initiated the creation of the Friedrich Hofmann Prize in 1975 with a donation, and Joachim Heermann put this prize on a secure financial footing in 1995 with a generous donation.

The following provisions apply to the awarding of the prize:

1. The prize is awarded for a single or several related publications by the prizewinner that have appeared in a scientific journal.

2. The publication should be of great benefit and value for the practical work of the ear, nose and throat physician.

3. Any member of the German Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Medicine, Head and Neck Surgery can apply for the prize. The prize is particularly suitable for honouring scientific achievements, discoveries and practical accomplishments that have been developed by practising ear, nose and throat physicians.

4. The award is associated with a sum of money, which is raised through donations and contributions from members of the Society. The amount and timing of the award will depend on the funds available and the number of candidates worthy of the award. The decision on this is at the discretion of the panel of judges (see point 6). However, the prize should be awarded at least once every 5 years.

5. Proposals for the award of the ‘Hofmann and Heermann Prize’ may be submitted by any member of the Society. The work intended for the award must be submitted by post to the Secretary of the Society via the Bonn office by 1 November of the previous year of the congress, together with the applicant's curriculum vitae and a list of publications.

6. The awarding of the prize is decided by a panel of judges consisting of the executive committee and the respective representative of the professional association. Each member of the panel of judges has one vote. The judges decide on the awarding of the prize to one or more members of the company by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the President shall have the casting vote.

7. The award is announced and presented at the annual conference of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.